As EV adoption grows, a battery ecosystem must evolve with it to address sustainability and return on investment.

Life cycle management strategies include battery health transparency and improved maintainability and efficient approved repair and recycling capabilities

Writing in Cox Automotive’s latest Insight Quarterly, David Gray, client director at EV Battery Solutions, has warned that with the rising number of EVs on the road, managing battery life cycles is critical.

Gray stressed the need for comprehensive life cycle management strategies to maximise battery longevity and value. These include battery health transparency, improved maintainability and efficient approved repair reuse and recycling capabilities, tailored insurance and liability, and battery asset life cycle tracking.

“The EV battery landscape is continuously evolving,” he elaborated. “Innovations in efficiency, sustainability, solid-state batteries and smart technologies, alongside collaborations between storage and logistics organisations, vehicle and battery manufacturers, and recycling companies, are vital for creating a sustainable EV battery ecosystem.”

Gray has called for regular battery health monitoring alongside the need for specialist training for technicians in advanced automotive high-voltage systems and comprehensive life cycle tracking.

He explained: “Effective in-life battery management is crucial not just for the efficiency of electric vehicles but for their broader adoption.”

Philip Nothard, Cox Automotive’s insight director, echoed Gray’s sentiments.

“While EV adoption may have plateaued recently, we anticipate significant change by 2030. To support consumers in the transition to electric vehicles, we must invest in an ecosystem that covers the entire battery lifecycle, ensuring consumers are confident in the technology.

“David and the EV Battery Solutions team have identified critical areas for the future of EV adoption in the UK and beyond. Our ecosystem must evolve rapidly to support the growing number of EV drivers, especially those hesitant to shift.”

The full article, with more details on why industry stakeholders must invest in developing a robust EV battery ecosystem, is online here.