Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio has entered into a partnership with UK-based artificial intelligence startup Monolith to improve the testing and development of its electric car battery packs in Europe. This collaboration will use real-time data from Nio’s battery swapping service to enhance battery performance and longevity, with testing set to begin in five European markets, the companies said on Tuesday.
Monolith’s CEO, Richard Ahlfeld, mentioned that the startup is working through regulatory processes to bring similar services to China, opening up the possibility of collaboration with additional Chinese automakers. “That should enable us to work with other Chinese automakers,” Ahlfeld said.
Monolith already collaborates with several of the world’s largest automakers, including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Honda, utilizing machine learning algorithms to accelerate the development of electric vehicle batteries. Ahlfeld noted that Western automakers face growing pressure to close the gap with China’s fast-paced electric vehicle market. “European automakers take about five years to develop a new car, while their Chinese rivals can do it in just two years,” he explained.
Nio’s battery swapping service, which allows drivers to swap their batteries within minutes, plays a crucial role in this collaboration. According to Frank Kindermann, Nio’s head of European battery systems, 98% of Nio customers in Europe use the battery swapping service, providing extensive data for Monolith’s AI algorithms to analyze battery performance and durability.
“Nio gives you a prototype of a car early on and keeps learning from the results of each swap,” Ahlfeld said. Monolith has raised approximately $22 million in funding from investors such as Insight Partners and Pentech to further advance its AI-driven battery testing technology.
Source: Reuters
