The market for e-cars will continue to grow in 2022: After 355.000 registered vehicles in 2021, there will probably be more than half a million new registrations this year. The start-up Twaice is benefiting from the global trend towards electric cars. It analyzes the batteries, which are currently still the most expensive part of the vehicle. Last year, the Munich team secured new financing for 21 million euros ($26 million). We throw together with Dr. Michael Baumann from Twaice looks to the future.
dr From 2014 to 2018, Michael Baumann researched batteries as a research assistant at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). Before that, he completed the diploma course in mechatronics and information technology at the TUM. He gained relevant experience in battery technology as well as hardware and software development at various industrial partners and research institutions such as TUM Create Singapore, UC Berkeley and Harvard University.
With our new office in Paris, however, we also want to increase our ambitions in southern Europe and further expand the existing business in Europe, especially in the e-vehicle sector and in battery development.
dr Michael Bauman
gcm: Twaice specializes in analyzing and predicting battery conditions and performance. New markets can be served with fresh money from the capital increase. Which projects and goals will TWAICE realize in the next few years?
dr Michael Baumann: Through our capital increase and above all through our new investor Energize Ventures, we are particularly striving to expand our product range in the US market. In particular, the integrators and operators of stationary storage systems in the USA are of great interest to us. We want to increase our footprint there.
With our new office in Paris, however, we also want to increase our ambitions in southern Europe and further expand the existing business in Europe, especially in the e-vehicle sector and in battery development.
gcm. The development of new battery technologies is progressing internationally. What information can development engineers gain with the TWAICE analysis process when developing new batteries?
dr Michael Baumann: Basically, in the course of battery development, a wide variety of questions relating to battery cells and their system design have to be answered. Here we provide the tools, such as the Model Library, that help with the correct cell selection. The broad mass of commercially available cells is shown in our model library. This allows customers to select the right cell for their respective battery system and application at any time.
In the course of development, once the cells are selected, the questions revolve more around the system design (e.g. the electrical design or the cooling design). Here we also offer customer-specific simulation models that engineers can use to work on the electrical and thermal design, simulate the cooling system and ultimately map the expected aging behavior of batteries. Development engineers can therefore optimize the entire system design of a battery here.
gcm: On the basis of the analysis process, for example, warranty claims should be checked or a battery label should be offered that guarantees the independently tested quality of the battery. Which plans have already been realized or will be implemented in the near future?
dr Michael Baumann: TWAICE is basically a technology provider. In addition, however, it is important to us that we are also a kind of third party who provides independent analyzes of batteries, the scope of warranties and the residual values of various battery systems. This is an important topic for us because the technical residual value of a battery is of course directly related to the monetary residual value of the products and thus also to the residual value for the end customer. In the field of used electric vehicles, this determination of residual values is currently a question that no player on the market can really answer well. End users literally have to buy a pig in a poke.
In order to address this for e-vehicles, we are currently working on a solution together with a German certifier, TÜV Rheinland. More information will probably be available at the end of February.
gcm: Thank you very much, Dr. Bauman.
dr Michael Bauman
dr From 2014 to 2018, Michael Baumann researched batteries as a research assistant at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). Before that, he completed the diploma course in mechatronics and information technology at the TUM. He gained relevant experience in battery technology as well as hardware and software development at various industrial partners and research institutions such as TUM Create Singapore, UC Berkeley and Harvard University.
Addendum
Interview from green car magazine
Cover Photo - Dr. Michael Baumann - Copyright Twaice
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