Better.Re Solution (Better Recovery Solution)

As the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) increases, battery life and performance degradation have emerged as significant challenges. Typically, EV batteries degrade in performance within a few years, leading to high replacement costs and difficulties in assessing residual value. Automakers face concerns regarding battery warranty management and the utilization of used batteries, while consumers hesitate to purchase EVs due to concerns about battery lifespan.

Furthermore, governments and industries worldwide are under pressure to reduce waste and ensure eco-friendliness through battery reuse/recycling. However, existing Battery Management Systems (BMS) primarily focus on safety and cell balancing, lacking integrated solutions for long-term lifespan optimization and predictive maintenance based on user behavior. In essence, the problem lies in the absence of a platform that actively extends battery life and proactively detects issues based on data.

Better.Re Solution is an integrated lifecycle management software platform provided directly by the battery manufacturer, with its core technology centered on battery lifespan prediction and optimization using real-world data. By analyzing approximately 1.25 billion km (780 million miles) of actual driving, charging, and parking data with AI, it provides users with personalized charging guidance and automatically adjusts charging patterns based on battery condition.

This allows users to optimize their battery charging and discharging habits effortlessly, delaying battery degradation. Actual demonstration results have shown that battery life can be extended by up to 100% compared to existing methods, for example, extending the period of maintaining a State of Health Capacity (SOHC) level of 98% from 1.5 years to 3 years. In addition, AI proactively detects anomalies and controls charging, preventing problems before they occur.

These predictive diagnostics and control functions are the first in the battery industry, differentiated by significantly extending battery replacement cycles and preventing safety accidents. Furthermore, supporting a Battery as a Service (BaaS) model, which allows battery leasing, resale, insurance, and residual value assessment on this platform, is also a strength as an integrated solution.

This solution is primarily adopted by electric vehicle manufacturers and operators. As a battery supplier, LG Energy Solution canProvide this software to automotive companies (B2B)or jointly provide it as a final consumer app service. For example, an automotive brand using batteries equipped with this platform canOffer Lifetime battery care services to their customers (EV drivers)through an app.

In addition, electric vehicle leasing/rental companies or logistics companies (operating electric trucks) can use it for battery life extension and predictive maintenance, and collaborate with charging infrastructure companies to link optimal charging strategies. In short, the customers who pay the direct costs areCompanies such as automotive OEMs (B2B)but through them,Services are provided to EV owners (B2C)This is the structure. Meanwhile, B2B2C/B2B entities such as battery exchange stations and energy storage system (ESS) operators are also potential customer groups.

This platform is software-based, allowing service expansion to all electric vehicles equipped with LG Energy Solution batteries. Currently, it is centered on its own batteries, but it can also be applied to vehicles from other manufacturers using standard OBD-II data, etc., so it has the potential to expand to virtually all EVs.

In addition, customized applications are possible in various fields that use batteries, such as electric motorcycles, drones, and ESS. The global electric vehicle market is the target, so the scale is vast, and the need is high in all countries where electrification has already progressed.

In terms of regulations, only data collection/privacy issues need to be considered, and governments in each country are welcoming such solutions to promote battery reuse. In the long term, the data accumulated by this platform can be used as a standard for battery reliability evaluation, which can 활발해질 수 있습니다. LG Energy Solution already has cooperative relationships with global OEMs, so rapid expansion through new car applications is also expected.

Eventually, it is being discussed as a potential necessity with the expansion of electric vehicle distribution, and is being evaluated as a scalable B2B2C service.

This solution from LG Energy Solution is"The first pure software innovation from a battery company"It was noted as such. The CES judges recognized both the innovation and effectiveness of the lifespan extension technology, which is essential in the era of electrification, and the media reported that this made LG Energy Solution the first battery company to win a CES Innovation Award.

Market expectations are also high, and the industry isSaying that it is "a signal flare for the opening of the BaaS era."In particular, the announcement that battery life has been doubled has attracted a lot of attention, and"Achieving both consumer cost savings and environmental protection at the same time"It was well received as a solution.

However, some point out the actual challenges, such as the deviation in effects in various driving environments and the cooperation of automotive OEMs. Since it is still in the stage of presenting expectations with LG's internal verification data, there is an opinion that the actual performance after application to the actual vehicle should be observed. Nevertheless, there is no disagreement that both technical completeness and market necessity are high, and market release is considered a foregone conclusion as discussions with several automakers have been formalized since CES.