Battery Level

The cells used in an EV battery pack are similar to those in everyday devices. Each cell's charge level is important for the safety and operation of a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). Battery level data is retrieved using onboard sensors in battery packs. This data feeds into a vehicle’s ECU (Electronic Control Unit) and can be transmitted to an end-user in fleet management organisations, or even the manufacturer to determine the status of the battery pack.

Electric vehicles are well-established in the market today. With government bans on sales of combustion engine vehicles as early as 2030, companies use battery data for many reasons.

The better understanding of a vehicle's battery level, the more it can be efficiently charged. Users can plan charges in advance if operating daily. For instance, at the end of a shift vehicles can be plugged in in advance for the next shift.

Battery level data is used to work out the battery-only range of a BEV or PHEV. The distance covered and battery charge used is similar to an mpg or l/100km rating for a combustion-powered vehicle. Working out the remaining driving distance before the charge gets too low.

Fleet managers can decide which Electric Vehicle to choose from. If battery level data is fed into an advanced API it can calculate how much charge is left at the end of a shift. If the charge is remaining, it may not be worth going for a higher capacity battery and can save company costs by purchasing a smaller vehicle.

When the battery level is too low, the vehicle will switch off to prevent battery voltage drop. The battery level data is sent across using mobile data networks to let users know if the level drops too low. This information can be fed to the drivers to make sure they stop and recharge.