Blockchain Internet of Things (IoT) for smart Electric Vehicle (EV) battery management is an emerging technology that has the potential to revolutionise how battery management is conducted in EVs. This technology is a combination of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and IoT. It can provide the ability to securely collect and organise data from multiple EV battery sources in a distributed network, allowing for more efficient and secure management of battery life and charging. It can potentially reduce inefficiencies and human errors, reduce maintenance costs, streamline design processes, and ensure data integrity.
Blockchain IoT can also make the battery management and charging process much faster. Eliminating manual intervention allows for a more automated process that can be managed securely over a distributed network. In addition, it also provides opportunities for improved analytics and predictive analytics, allowing for informed decisions regarding managing the EV battery. Furthermore, it can make battery servicing and maintenance more efficient.

Benefits of Blockchain IoT for Smart EV Battery Management

Increased Efficiency and Automation:

Blockchain technology can enable automated and secure transactions on the IoT for an EV’s battery management, improving the overall efficiency of data distribution, access, and updates. This will improve the system’s accuracy, automate processes, and reduce the need for manual entries.

Enhanced Security:

IoT networks are vulnerable to hacking and data breaches; hence effective security is one of the challenges to the successful deployment of EV battery management. Through smart contracts and access control, blockchain technology can offer a powerful solution to keep up to date with the safety and security of the system while reducing the risk of malicious attacks.

Improved Data Transparency and Accessibility:

With blockchain technology, the ownership and authenticity of data are secured, allowing for precise tracking and auditing of data changes. This makes it easier to identify and take decisive action against fraudulent activities while simultaneously demanding increased transparency. Furthermore, access is allowed only to verified participants, improving overall security and trust.

Reduced Cost and Time:

By using blockchain technology, a secure and immutable database can be established to ensure that all information relating to an EV’s battery management system is stored securely, available anytime when needed, and protected from unauthorised access. This will significantly reduce operational costs and timelines associated with manual processes and will ensure smooth data exchanges.

Enhanced Reliability:

With blockchain technology, a permanent ledger is maintained on the network, providing tamper-proof data storage and reliability. This eliminates the need for third-party interventions or manual reviews which can be time-consuming and inefficient. This improves overall operational efficiency and allows for the quick and accurate data processing of an EV’s battery management system.

Shortfalls of Blockchain IoT for Smart Electric Vehicle Battery Management

High Cost:

Blockchain IoT platforms for smart EV battery management requires hardware and software investments. This may result in significant business costs unless they opt for a subscription or subscription-based model. Furthermore, the maintenance cost is also considerably high and requires frequent upgrades.

Limited Scalability:

Since the number of transactions increases with increased data, the blockchain IoT platform for smart EV battery management has limited scalability. Frequent system upgrades are necessary to support large amounts of data.

Lack of Interoperability:

Blockchain IoT networks are not interoperable with other networks. This means the data stored in one system is only available to other systems if they have the same network. Interoperability is necessary to ensure the free flow of data across systems and networks.

Security Vulnerabilities:

Although blockchain technology is highly secure, it is crucial not to ignore the potential security vulnerabilities. Hackers or attackers can compromise the system and steal or misuse the data. This may lead to financial losses and other damages.

Data Privacy:

Data privacy is a major concern regarding the use of blockchain IoT. Since the data is stored on a distributed ledger, it is not always possible to control who can access it or make changes to it. Furthermore, the system is usually open source, meaning anyone can access the data stored in it.

Market activity

BMW and Ford have partnered with IBM to create a blockchain-based EV battery management system. The system allows manufacturers to track and monitor the performance of the car’s batteries, maximising their efficiency and utilisation. This task involved tracking how the car’s batteries are charged when plugged in, monitoring the energy consumption during driving, and assessing the actual performance of the battery. This meant that the manufacturers could quickly respond to any issues and better protect the EV’s battery. Additionally, owners of the cars could view and monitor the performance of their vehicle’s battery from their smart devices.
Microsoft recently revealed its project Cronus, a blockchain-based platform that enables the auto industry to securely store and manage EV battery data. The key feature of Cronus is its ability to record, store, and access data related to EV battery characteristics such as temperature, voltage, current, and safety systems. The platform allows multiple stakeholders, such as manufacturers, suppliers, or customers, to access data securely. Microsoft primarily developed the platform to avert fraud, counterfeiting, and other criminal activities in the auto industry. Furthermore, by securely storing information in the blockchain, Microsoft seeks to reduce vulnerabilities, thwarting the chance of malicious parties altering the data.

Blockchain Technology in EV Battery Management: Nissan and Tesla

Nissan is leveraging blockchain technology to manage their EV battery performance. To maximise the battery life, Nissan uses blockchain technology to track energy usage, load balancing, and performance. This helps Nissan create predictive models for optimising EV battery performance and extending battery life. Additionally, Nissan’s blockchain platform helps manage customer data and reward individuals that use eco-friendly driving practices. This allows Nissan to drive eco-friendly initiatives while also providing customers with a secure and personalised customer experience.
Since 2019, Tesla has been using blockchain technology to power its Model 3. This technology helps to make the vehicle’s battery system more transparent, efficient, and secure. The system relies on distributed ledger technology to manage data and transactions about the vehicle’s battery life span within a trusted environment. Using a distributed ledger platform, Tesla stores battery performance data securely, so that users can see charging performance, battery life span, and more.

This data can be used to make decisions regarding charging time and maintenance schedules. In addition to storing battery data, the blockchain system also helps to manage system upgrades. Tesla can quickly and securely push system upgrades to all connected vehicles, without worrying about system compatibility. Finally, blockchain technology helps to make vehicles more secure. Using digital signatures, Tesla can ensure that every transaction within the system is properly authenticated and authorised. This improves the system’s overall security and prevents unauthorised access to the distributed ledger.

What Next?

The EV battery management market is projected to experience substantial growth during the forecast period, with the size expected to increase from approximately US$8.8 billion in 2023 to US$37.7 billion by 2028, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 33.8%. It is anticipated that a significant portion of this growth and market size will be attributed to the proliferation of blockchain IoT, although the exact extent remains unknown at present. The general growth is largely due to the challenge of mitigating the risk of theft and fraudulent use of EV batteries, and the increasing need to enhance data privacy, safety, and reliability of data transmission while meeting the regulations. Factors such as the increased availability of innovative technologies, advancements in blockchain technology, and the increasing focus on predictive maintenance of EV batteries are driving the market growth.
One of the most exciting future innovations that will improve blockchain IoT for smart EV battery management is data analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI). By leveraging machine learning, predictive modeling, and data analytics, we can monitor EV batteries in real-time and optimize them for efficient usage and extended lifespan. Furthermore, we can collect user feedback to enhance the user experience and adapt battery management procedures accordingly. In addition, active implementation of smart contracts enables the management of EV services, including charging, data storage, and payments, while establishing an immutable and secure platform for decentralized transactions. All these innovations will enable a more robust blockchain IoT and will help provide more secure and efficient management of EV batteries.