TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A team from National Taiwan University of Science and Technology has teamed up with a domestic electric scooter manufacturer to develop a battery monitoring platform that issues alerts before unusual temperature rises or sudden resistance increases to enhance battery safety.
Wang Fu-ming (王復民), the team leader and a professor at the university’s Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, said the team monitors battery health by analyzing data on charging, voltage and resistance. The platform also uses statistical models to predict potential issues, per CNA.
Wang said the team aims to make batteries release energy safely, using key technologies like polymer electrolyte design and temperature control. The platform has been tested in the electric scooter company’s battery network, including random checks and short-circuit predictions, allowing the system to automatically adjust charging and discharging.
The team analyzed data from over one million batteries to ensure the platform can accurately monitor battery conditions. The research has received awards from the Far Eastern Y.Z. Hsu Foundation and the Net Zero Tech International Contest, organized by the Teco Technology Foundation. Wang added the technology will be expanded into batteries used in drones, submarines and wearable devices.
Wang previously conducted battery and electrolyte research at the Industrial Technology Research Institute, focusing on lithium-battery safety and performance. He also developed diagnostic technology that detects internal chemical changes during battery operation, enabling early prediction of aging and safety risks.
In November, another team from the university developed a new battery featuring low-carbon manufacturing, long lifespan and high safety. It stores energy in liquid solutions kept in external tanks, allowing its power and capacity to be adjusted. The battery stores and releases energy by moving vanadium ions between the two liquids through a specialized membrane.
In 2023, the university’s Department of Mechanical Engineering worked with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to develop tech that helps ions move faster in solid-state electrolytes, which are safer than liquid lithium batteries. The design uses special channels that let ions pass through more easily and can be used in smartphones, laptops and EVs.
