Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Nio has partnered with UK-based artificial intelligence software startup Monolith to enhance real-time testing and improvement of electric car battery packs using Nio’s battery swapping service in Europe.
Testing is scheduled to begin soon across five European markets. Monolith’s CEO, Richard Ahlfeld, stated that the company is also working through regulatory requirements to extend the initiative to China, which would enable collaboration with other Chinese automakers.
Monolith currently collaborates with around 10 of the world’s top 20 automakers—including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Honda—utilizing machine learning algorithms to test electric vehicle batteries. This approach accelerates development and assists Western automakers in catching up with their Chinese counterparts.
“They are obviously way behind China, so they need to learn really, really quickly,” Ahlfeld said. European automakers typically require five years or more to develop a new car, whereas Chinese EV manufacturers take about two years. “The Chinese want to push even faster; they’re currently thinking, ‘Okay, can we do it in one year?'”
Nio’s battery swapping service allows car owners to replace EV batteries in minutes rather than charging them. According to Frank Kindermann, Nio’s European battery system head, 98% of customers in its five key European markets use this service. This enables the company to test new batteries and assess their health, performance, and durability each time they are swapped, with Monolith’s AI algorithms processing the data.
“Nio can essentially give you a prototype of a car early on, and they keep testing and learning from what you’re doing,” Ahlfeld added. To date, Monolith has raised approximately $22 million from investors, including private equity firm Insight Partners and venture capital firm Pentech.
