Pepper Motion GmbH and Twaice announced at the IAA Mobility 2021 event in Munich earlier this month that they are working together on retrofitting new and used commercial vehicles and optimizing battery function in the electrified powertrains. Using Twaice’s analytic software, Pepper customers are provided insight on their batteries and optimization.

Recently changing its name from E-troFIT GmbH to Pepper Motion GmbH, the company says it is the first digital OEM and the leading retrofitting manufacturer, working on buses and trucks fitted with modern, all-electric powertrains. Battery analytics company Twaice uses software to determine the field condition, long-term use, and possible maintenance needed on batteries in the vehicle. Its software uses artificial intelligence to determine the condition, aging, and performance of lithium-ion batteries. This makes their life and economic value more transparent.

“Twaice is an important strategic technology partner for us,” said Matthias Kerler, Chief Technology Officer of Pepper Motion GmbH. “We can use the software not only to analyze the aging process of batteries but also to derive value-linked different life cycles and usage scenarios that are valuable for our customers and our product development.”

“Mobility is undergoing a historic transformation, with more and more electric alternatives replacing traditional internal combustion engines,” added Twaice Co-CEO Stephan Rohr. “At the heart of deciding whether renewable energy and electric vehicles can be widely deployed in the future is the battery. This is where predictive battery analytics is groundbreaking, as it plays a key role in unlocking previously undiscovered potential along the entire value chain. Our combined strengths literally give diesel vehicles a second life as zero-emission electric vehicles. ”

Not only does the software help improve battery function and customer transparency, but it also maximizes energy use to reduce CO2 emissions making batteries more sustainable.

“The battery is the most cost-intensive part of an electric drive system and the one with the largest CO2 footprint,” said Andreas Hager, Managing Director of Pepper Motion GmbH. “This makes it even more important for us to make this component usable for as long as possible in different life cycles. In this way, we are also fulfilling the most important part of our corporate mission to drive decarbonization forward quickly with sustainable mobility solutions and to keep the CO2 footprint as low as possible”

ISO 9001-certified Pepper says it is the only supplier of retrofitting solutions to guarantee operational safety in accordance with international automotive industry standards. With Twaice supporting Pepper’s fleet in development and operation, the company will focus on international growth.

“We plan to put around 1200 buses and trucks on the road with our technology by 2023 alone,” added Hager. “The vehicles will be delivered primarily in Europe, North, and South America.”