How could a vehicle owner try to measure the SoH on his own?
Driving range measurement
Simply driving the car and comparing the driving range of different rides is not an option. The driving range depends on individual driving behavior. Different drives are difficult to compare even if the route is the same as traffic, temperature and the individual driving behavior are likely to be different.
Using the remaining range provided in the HMI by the vehicle manufacturer of a fully charged car is not possible, since this method is not comparable. It also depends on the historical driving behavior and it is unknown what kind of historical statistics the car manufacturer uses.
Energy consumption measurement
Measuring the energy consumption of charged energy (charger values) is not possible, since losses are not considered. As vehicle owner you never know when the battery is completely full or empty. The Battery Management System (BMS) limits charging / discharging depending on various conditions like temperature, charging & discharging power. And the SoC is estimated by the vehicle manufacturer and depends also on various conditions. An energy-based SoH calculation is not possible for an vehicle owner since measurement depends on charging & discharging power & BMS limitations
You see that a lot of battery expert knowledge, detailed battery models, measurement equipment and extended vehicle know-how is necessary to provide a comparable and precise SoH measurement.
Calculation of SoH is result of a complex process
The calculation of the SoH is the last step of a complex process involving a huge amount of expertise in the field of battery technology and software development. Before the SoH of one specific battery in a vehicle can be calculated laboratory measurements are performed on battery cells of the same type and structure. Pre-defined charging and discharging cycles are run for several weeks in a battery laboratory. These extensive measurements deliver data that has to be preprocessed. Afterwards battery parameters are extracted and the battery cell model is formatted. This process of evaluation results in the release of a highly accurate battery cell model. This digital twin of the battery is used for further calculations and estimations.
The signals provided by the vehicle in the workshop about its battery parameters are gathered, interpreted and utilized for the SoH calculation. With the data from laboratory measurements, Battery Quick Check tested vehicles and data from your vehicle the SoH value calculated at the end of a Battery Quick Check is highly precise.
Vehicles of the same make, model and battery type and structure are tested regarding different key battery parameters to improve the battery model even further and prove the quality and repeatability of the Battery Quick Check. Several Quick Checks and additional measurements are performed and evaluated to improve the database for this combination of vehicle and battery. Only if all measurements fulfil the strict quality standards, this vehicle and battery combination is released for customer Quick Checks.
For all these processes being performed before a vehicle SoH can be determined in the workshop the know how and battery knowledge of the Battery Quick Check GmbH is utilized to determine the real SoH value for each specific vehicle.
What is Battery Quick Check doing to provide an accurate SoH result?
The calculation of the SoH is the last step of a complex process involving a huge amount of expertise in the field of battery technology and software development. Before the SoH of one specific battery in a vehicle can be calculated laboratory measurements are performed on battery cells of the same type and structure. Pre-defined charging and discharging cycles are run for several weeks in a battery laboratory. These extensive measurements deliver data that has to be preprocessed. Afterwards battery parameters are extracted and the battery cell model is formatted. This process of evaluation results in the release of a highly accurate battery cell model. This digital twin of the battery is used for further calculations and estimations.
The signals provided by the vehicle in the workshop about its battery parameters are gathered, interpreted and utilized for the SoH calculation. With the data from laboratory measurements, Battery Quick Check tested vehicles and data from your vehicle the SoH value calculated at the end of a Battery Quick Check is highly precise.
Vehicles of the same make, model and battery type and structure are tested regarding different key battery parameters to improve the battery model even further and prove the quality and repeatability of the Battery Quick Check. Several Quick Checks and additional measurements are performed and evaluated to improve the database for this combination of vehicle and battery. Only if all measurements fulfil the strict quality standards, this vehicle and battery combination is released for customer Quick Checks.
For all these processes being performed before a vehicle SoH can be determined in the workshop the know how and battery knowledge of the Battery Quick Check GmbH is utilized to determine the real SoH value for each specific vehicle.
How to get your battery report
You hand your car over to a workshop with a state of charge (SoC) of less than 45% and they will run the Battery Quick Check on your car. After the partial charging cycle, the actual measurement acquired from your vehicle is combined with our highly precise database to determine the capacity (SoH) of your battery.
The resulting SoH value is delivered according a TÜV Rheinland-certified process as a battery report with additional information on the remaining available energy, WLTP range and the measurement method. The battery report can also be validated via a QR code and additional information is given in the digital version.
This approach is accurate, independent from external conditions and any restrictions made by the vehicle manufacturer. If you want to get the full picture of the real battery aging the Battery Quick Check is the right choice for you.
