The ev battery supply chain
Startup Chemix says its AI platform can speed up battery development, ensuring EVs are more efficient and can stay on the road longer
Artificial intelligence’s next target is the electric vehicle battery.
Chemix, an AI-powered the EV battery supply developer, has completed a $20 million Series A funding round, led by Ibex Investors. The three-year-old startup will use the funding to scale its technology, which uses algorithms to design and optimize novel batteries for electric vehicle makers.
As interest in AI surges, so too has scrutiny of the technology’s energy intensity and its corresponding burden on data centers and power grids. But alongside those challenges are also opportunities for AI to help speed decarbonization by accelerating the development of sustainable materials.
The ev battery supply, battery development is typically a slow and laborious process, with extensive testing and retesting. AI offers to improve the ev battery supply measuring how long a battery will last, for example, can involve charging and discharging thousands of times. Using AI, developers can cut down the time and expense of battery design by iterating faster and more efficiently. One early-prediction model helped reduce the time it took to identify fast-charging techniques from over 500 days to 16 days, in part by predicting the final cycle life using data from the first few cycles, according to a 2020 Nature study.
AI in Battery Recycling and Circular Economy Solutions
“The pharma industry, which is where you have very expensive R&D and testing costs, is a sector that has embraced this type of approach for years,” said Alp Kucukelbir, co-founder and chief scientist at AI company Fero Labs, who authored a report on AI’s potential to spur climate solutions. Now, there are financial and societal incentives to apply the same techniques to the battery and EV industry, he said.
Sunnyvale, California-based Chemix says its algorithms can help customers create custom batteries with specific properties, such as an ability to withstand high temperatures or exclude certain materials. Chemix designs the batteries and works with a manufacturing partner to make the cells, which are then sold at a premium to customers.
In one case, Chemix helped a client develop a novel electrolyte — the substance that transfers ions between the battery’s cathode and anode — that could extend the battery’s cycle life by 400% within the span of two months, according to co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Kaixiang Lin. The process would ordinarily take twice that amount of time without the use of AI. the ev battery supply
The Role of AI in Supporting Supply Chain Transparency and Security
In addition to optimizing production and recycling, AI can enhance transparency and security across the entire EV battery supply chain. As the demand for ethical and sustainable sourcing grows, consumers and manufacturers alike are looking for ways to verify the origins and integrity of their products.
Lin wouldn’t disclose Chemix’s current customer base but said that it includes premium EV makers who want to move beyond off-the-shelf batteries. Currently, the startup’s focus is on electrolyte design for EVs but it plans to turn to cathodes, anodes and slurry — all critical battery components — as well as home batteries.
The EV battery supply market is evolving quickly, presenting a challenge for battery manufacturers aiming to keep up with the pace of development. “Chemix isn’t inventing new chemistry, it’s working to make what’s already out there better,” said Yann Lagalaye, managing partner of BNP Paribas Solar Impulse Venture Fund, which invested in the round. “And just improving the existing [chemistry] is huge, because by doing that they can tackle underserved markets” that currently rely on mass-market batteries that aren’t custom built to their needs, such as electric sports cars and motorbikes.
Challenges and Future Prospects of AI in the EV Battery Industry
While AI innovations offer immense potential, integrating AI solutions into the EV battery supply chain is not without its challenges. Issues such as data privacy, high implementation costs, and the need for skilled personnel can slow down the adoption of AI technologies. Furthermore, the industry must address concerns about the environmental footprint of AI systems themselves, as they often require significant energy and computational power.
Despite these challenges, the prospects for AI in the EV battery sector are promising. As technology continues to evolve, AI applications will become more accessible, affordable, and efficient. In the coming years, we can expect to see AI playing an even more integral role in transforming the EV battery supply chain, from optimizing production processes to supporting circular economy initiatives.
Chemix is growing a proprietary dataset gathered in the company’s physical lab, which it uses to help train the AI model, Lin said.
“To really practically apply AI and also unleash the full potential of AI, what the industry is missing is availability of data,” he said. “If you look at genAI, ChatGPT-type of application, they can screen through massive data from the internet, but when it comes to battery or hardware development, there is not enough data.”
Conclusion: The Path Forward for AI and EV Battery Supply
The adoption of AI in the EV battery supply chain is a critical step toward creating a sustainable, efficient, and resilient industry. By enhancing raw material procurement, optimizing production, supporting predictive maintenance, and advancing recycling practices, AI is unlocking new possibilities for the EV sector. Moreover, AI’s role in promoting transparency and security within the supply chain addresses growing consumer demands for ethical and sustainable sourcing.
As we move forward, the synergy between AI and the EV battery industry will be pivotal in overcoming supply chain challenges and fostering a future where electric vehicles are both affordable and widely accessible. By embracing AI innovations, the EV battery supply chain is not only improving efficiency and sustainability but also setting a strong foundation for the mass adoption of clean energy technologies.
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