Following the recent electric vehicle (EV) fire in Cheongna, Incheon, concerns about the safety of EVs have intensified, prompting a heated debate between automakers and battery manufacturers. The core of the dispute revolves around the development and control of the Battery Management System (BMS), a critical component for ensuring EV safety.
The BMS, often described as the “brain” of an EV, plays a pivotal role in monitoring and managing the battery’s condition. By maintaining the battery under optimal conditions, the BMS can detect abnormal signs, such as voltage drops, and potentially prevent accidents like fires before they occur. As the demand for safer EVs grows, so does the urgency to advance BMS technology.
However, the push to improve BMS has exposed a rift between automakers and battery manufacturers. Battery makers argue that their deep expertise in battery chemistry makes them best suited to lead the development of safety diagnostics within the BMS. They believe that access to comprehensive battery data is essential for enhancing BMS technology and ensuring the highest safety standards.
On the other hand, automakers, who control the vehicle hardware and have direct interaction with consumers, contend that they should maintain control over BMS development. They argue that they possess crucial long-term real-world driving data, which, when combined with specialized battery information, is sufficient to create a safe and reliable BMS.
This tension is exacerbated by the fact that, under current regulations, the actual usage data of batteries is owned by the vehicle owners. Automakers can access this data with the owners’ consent, but battery manufacturers are often left in the dark unless there is suspicion of a battery quality issue. This lack of data sharing is a significant barrier to BMS advancement.
Professor Han Se-kyung of Kyungpook National University highlighted the importance of an “EV Battery Data Platform” during a recent policy forum, emphasizing that data-based early diagnostics are the most realistic way to prevent battery fires. He called for greater collaboration between automakers and battery manufacturers to share battery data more openly.
Despite these calls for cooperation, automakers remain hesitant to relinquish control over BMS development. With the battery now serving as the most expensive and critical component of an EV, automakers view the control of battery data as a key competitive asset in the rapidly evolving EV market. This shift from the internal combustion engine era, where engines were the primary competitive edge, has made battery technology the new battleground.
The stakes are high. According to market research firm SNE Research, the global BMS market is projected to reach $22 billion by 2035, growing at an average annual rate of 22%. This rapid growth underscores the importance of BMS in the future of the EV industry.
Industry insiders are increasingly advocating for collaboration between automakers and battery manufacturers. “To accelerate the EV era, cooperation through data sharing is essential rather than a power struggle,” one insider remarked. As the EV market continues to expand, the need for serious discussions on battery data sharing becomes ever more pressing, with consumer safety hanging in the balance.
