LG Energy Solution launches battery check for used cars

LG Energy Solution aims to open up business areas beyond traditional battery production with the new service. According to South Korean media, B.once can “can determine the status of a vehicle’s battery, including remaining capacity, voltage, and temperature, with just one diagnosis in 5 minutes.” In addition to this quick test, LGES offers a more detailed test, which is designed to deliver even more precise results. Both tests were developed, according to company representatives, based on LGES’s more than 10,000 patents in battery management and testing. Revolt, a major South Korean platform for used electric vehicles, has already been confirmed as the first user of the new service.

“B.once will contribute to activating the electric vehicle transaction market and expanding the electric vehicle ecosystem by linking with new products such as insurance and finance,” said Kim Hyun-jun, head of the BaaS business at LG Energy Solution. “We will continue to enhance customer value in the BaaS field with our unique battery technology while strengthening our competitiveness in the global market through overseas business expansion.”

B.once is offered in the versions “Quick Scan” and “Power Scan”. The Quick Scan reportedly determines battery status within five minutes by connecting an onboard diagnostic device, while the vehicle is switched on but not moving. At the heart of the system is a big-data pool fed by data from over 30,000 electric vehicles. The Quick Test is “highly valuable for used car platforms and service centres that need to quickly inspect large numbers of vehicles,” the company says.

Power Scan is the more precise tool, analysing battery condition during the charging process. The service evaluates the charging window from 50 to 80 per cent state of charge (SoC) and delivers a result “within 30 minutes after charging is completed.”

All B.once diagnostic processes can be monitored in real time via a dedicated app. The service is designed to complement the existing regular diagnostic service “B.Lifecare” for electric vehicle owners. LG Energy Solution signalled its interest in new business opportunities in battery management more than a year ago with the launch of the B.around brand. The B.around product range includes, among other things, BMS software, BMS hardware, and solutions for platforms for software-defined vehicles.

businesskorea.co.kr, biz.chosun.com, en.yna.co.kr

This article was first published by Cora Werwitzke for electrive’s German edition.