Hypermile and Spark EV Technology have joined forces to bring accurate range prediction and optimised fuel efficiency to the electric vehicle (EV) market. They are doing this through the development of an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) that is specifically optimised for energy efficiency.
The two companies, which specialise in AI-powered technology for the automotive industry, have collaborated to bring their aptly-named project, Co-pilot, to the market through a £400,000 Innovate UK grant.
Hypermile, experts in automotive autonomy, is to head up the collaboration to develop the revolutionary product. The aim is to benefit the battery electric vehicle (BEV) market from the manufacturing process to the end-user.
Co-pilot is a hardware and software solution that’s designed for battery electric vehicles to optimise energy efficiency. This allows drivers to travel even further on a single charge to eliminate range anxiety and battery over-specification.
The intuitive system uses computer vision and artificial intelligence to assess when it is best suited for the vehicle to coast so it’s using no energy. Plus, when to maximise the percentage of braking, a variable that is regenerative, that helps to recharge the vehicle’s battery.
The software is designed to leverage Spark EV’s range prediction technology to analyse real-world variables such as traffic, weather and driver behaviour to provide accurate data on how far the vehicle can travel before needing to be recharged.
Replacing the driver with driver profiles in their prediction engine, depending on the journey requirements, is an important area of innovation for Spark as it begins identifying opportunities in advanced driver assistance system applications.
This is a welcome collaboration because providing greater efficiency for electric cars is essential for drivers and manufacturers. Plus, it could help to speed up the transition to zero-emissions driving.
Jakub Langr, Hypermile co-founder, said: “This collaboration is a massive step in the right direction for the electric vehicle industry. The outcome of this project could be the solution to a number of issues preventing the widespread adoption of battery-powered vehicles.”
Justin Ott, Spark EV Technology CEO, said: “Co-pilot will allow us to look at how different driver profiles can affect range accuracy and utility in autonomous electric vehicles.
“As the automotive industry continues its drive towards an electrified future, projects such as this will play a considerable role in the way we utilise these systems in both low-emission commercial and passenger vehicles.”
