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Kia has a new idea to unlock longer-lasting, more affordable EV batteries
Kia became the first OEM to publicly test an EV battery passport at the cellular level. Using a modified EV3, Kia hopes to pave the way for longer-lasting, more affordable batteries for owners.
Kia’s new passport enables more affordable EV batteries
Battery passports are not an entirely new innovation. Automakers have been testing them for a few years, including Tesla, Volvo, Audi, and several others.
Last year, Volvo announced plans to launch the world’s first EV battery passport in the EX90, starting in 2027. Using blockchain technology from UK startup Circulor, the passport tracks the battery composition, the source of the raw materials, and its carbon footprint.
Kia is taking it a step further by becoming the first to publicly test a battery passport at the cellular level. Testing EV batteries at the cell level, the company said, can unlock longer-lasting, more affordable options.
Using an EV3 equipped with a battery cell monitoring system from UK-based Dukosi, Kia could monitor live data for every cell in the battery pack and upload it to the digital battery passport.
Once uploaded, drivers can access the data in real-time through their vehicle’s infotainment system. The system will automatically update after repairs for the most accurate data.
Kia said the new tech can unlock new benefits for EV drivers, including extended battery life and more affordable maintenance.
Traditional systems monitor the SOH of the entire battery. Since Kia’s research looks at each individual cell in real-time, drivers can find maintenance issues earlier. It also enables individual cells to be replaced instead of the entire module, which is not only faster but also significantly cheaper.
Kia is developing its own battery passport service in collaboration with partners across the entire EV battery chain to make it a reality.
The battery passport will offer additional safety-related data that Kia said will “set a new benchmark for the industry.”
Kia plans to launch the battery passport service for all electric (EV) and hybrid (HEV) vehicles sold in Europe by February 2027.
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