When Jinqiang Ning led reliability engineering at Tesla, he saw that today’s EV-battery diagnostics are only telling part of the story.
Standard battery inspections focus on the battery cell, the chemistry-based component most responsible for powering the vehicle. But examining the full battery pack—which also involves mechanical and system-integrity elements such as the enclosure, structures, thermal systems, fasteners, welding, and adhesives—gives a much more holistic view.
Ning founded EVident Battery in 2023 to pioneer these more comprehensive scans that detect problems early, extending EV batteries’ lifespan and improving safety.
“After the battery pack goes into a car, there’s currently no way to assess the components beyond the battery cell non-destructively,” he explains, adding that battery packs are valued at about $16k. “Based on our research, those components could account for up to 25 to 65 percent of total failure of EV battery packs. EV battery packs drive the EVs’ performance, value, and safety.”
The startup’s battery-pack assessments are powered by mechanical vibration analysis and machine learning. The non-intrusive scans are inexpensive ($40 per assessment), take just two minutes, and can be conducted on all EVs.
By offering insights into EV batteries’ health, safety risks, and financial value, EVident Battery has appeal for a range of customers throughout the transportation sector. The tech can enable manufacturers to catch issues before cars even leave the factory doors, and empower service facilities to address necessary repairs early on. Dealerships can understand the conditions and value of used EVs, while insurance companies are able to conduct critical evaluations, such as damage to a battery pack after an accident.
Extending the lifespan of EVs means getting the maximum climate benefit out of each unit. Ning explains that EVs need to be driven for significant mileage to offset their manufacturing emissions, and fewer replacement vehicles means fewer rare-earth metals need to be sourced.
“It’s very important to do the inspections and find any issues earlier, address them earlier, to save the battery pack’s longevity and extend its life,” he says.
EVident Battery recently closed a $3.2M seed round led by Ibex Investors, with participation from Nationwide Ventures, Automotive Ventures, Avesta Fund, and various angel investors. The nine-person team operates a 12k-square-foot facility in Westford, MA and is preparing to pilot its product this year.
The startup has been a member of Greentown Boston since June 2024, where the team takes advantage of engaging key contacts throughout the climatetech ecosystem.
“The number one value is the connections,” Ning says. “It’s a good experience to talk to other companies in the battery space and be connected by Greentown events, like the Transportation Sector Pitch Day. Greentown is like a window into the ecosystem, so we can talk to founders, investors, and potential customers.”