This was the central question driving the lively discussions during the parallel session “Digitalisation of battery testing, from cell to system level”, where THOR showcased its latest advances in Digital Twin methodologies to accelerate battery development.
On February 12, Lise Daniel (CEA) presented THOR’s approach to hybrid testing: combining minimal physical experiments with virtual simulations, aiming at significantly reduce testing time and costs while maintaining reliability and safety. This challenge was echoed by several industrial stakeholders in the audience, reinforcing the urgency for smarter, more efficient approaches.
Indeed the session – moderated by Mariola Guarinos Ripol (CINEA) and Franz Geyer (BMW Group) – underlined a shared industry concern: battery testing, particularly at module and pack level, remains too long and too expensive. The expected impacts of digitalisation are substantial: for industry, it means faster time-to-market and reduced resource consumption; for science, it enables deeper insights into battery behavior, and for society, it supports the deployment of more sustainable and trustworthy battery technologies.
Another key topic of discussion was adaptability: multiple battery chemistries are investigated, aiming to ensure that the methodologies remain relevant not only for current lithium-ion technologies but also for next-generation battery systems.
Despite the progress presented, important questions remain open: how to effectively encourage data sharing across the battery ecosystem to maximize the benefits of digitalization?
The session concluded with a strong message from Franz Geyer of BMW Group: “Accuracy is the key” Digital tools offer immense potential, but their success ultimately depends on the precision and reliability of the models behind them.
