Ecobattery: A preventive battery monitoring service to extend battery life

This article is part of a series dedicated to exploring the journeys of the winners of Go Circular 2. In this series, we highlight the inspiring initiatives of these winners. Lead-acid batteries are essential for traction and handling activities. Virtually all the machinery in companies is powered by this technology, including forklift trucks, pallet trucks and so on.

Due to a lack of knowledge or time, these batteries rarely receive the necessary maintenance to ensure that they last and function optimally over time, leading to rapid deterioration, breakdowns and potential risks of work interruption for employees. With this in mind, Ecobattery has developed a mobile battery monitoring and diagnostic service called E.BMS (ECOBATTERY Monitoring System).

Ecobattery specialises in battery regeneration: a process that eliminates sulphation, a remediable natural phenomenon in which lead sulphate crystals form on the plates of batteries and reduce their operating capacity. By launching this new monitoring activity, the company aims to move up the value chain in this sector by optimising the use of batteries to extend their life. How does this service work in practice?

The technology developed by Ecobattery is integrated directly into machine batteries in the form of a 4G-connected box. This device makes it possible to monitor battery parameters in real time to ensure proper maintenance. If an anomaly is detected, an alert is automatically sent to Ecobattery and the customer. Initial remote assistance is then provided to diagnose and resolve the problem. If the problem persists or requires urgent attention, a technician will come to the site to carry out the necessary repairs. An innovative idea and a technological innovation The innovation in this project lies in a real-time monitoring system, capable of monitoring the state of the batteries by measuring various parameters. This proactive monitoring enables signs of degradation to be detected and potential failures to be predicted before they occur. The integration of this real-time monitoring with battery regeneration represents a major technological advance. A circular strategy at the heart of the approach Ecobattery's monitoring system is part of a circular approach, combining predictive maintenance and battery regeneration. The switch from curative to predictive maintenance means that we can intervene proactively before irreparable damage occurs, thereby extending the life of the batteries and reducing the need to replace them. Multiple impacts Battery production and the extraction of raw materials have a significant impact on the environment (energy consumption, water use, loss of biodiversity). By extending the life of batteries through preventive maintenance and regeneration, Ecobattery helps to reduce this environmental impact by reducing the need to produce new batteries. As a result, battery replacement costs are reduced thanks to preventive maintenance.