NOVUM is a high-tech company based in Dresden, Germany. Since 2014 the company has developed a worldwide unique technology that allows them to determine the condition, capacity and residual value of batteries of any type within seconds. NOVUM is using patented test systems for batteries and cells as well as an artificial intelligence (AI) that analyzes the data.
Interview with Mandy Schipke, CEO of NOVUM.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Mandy Schipke: We support our customers from the energy, logistics and mobility sectors primarily by providing them with our test systems and our AI for battery diagnostics. With the help of NOVUM, used vehicle batteries, for example, are given a second or even third life in vehicles or battery storage systems after testing.
In addition, we offer battery storage monitoring and battery storage optimization. We ensure that battery storage systems run safely and use our artificial intelligence to detect even the smallest irregularities before failures or even fires occur.
As soon as we have enough data, we provide battery storage operators with valuable information on the usage scenarios in which they can participate most profitably in the electricity market with their systems.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
M.S: We are very proud that together with our partners JT Energy Systems and TRICERA we were able to inaugurate the largest battery storage facility in our state of Saxony this fall. Even the Prime Minister of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, was present.
The battery storage system contains used vehicle batteries that have been recycled using our technology. In addition, our artificial intelligence ensures that the battery storage system can be operated safely and with maximum efficiency.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
M.S: We offer individual solutions to our customers in the energy, logistics, automotive manufacturing and recycling sectors. Our most important products are currently our test systems for battery diagnostics, fleet monitoring and battery storage optimization using artificial intelligence.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
M.S: Since our technology is still new and unique in the world, we are just starting to tap into the German and international market. In Germany, we mainly work with companies from the energy and logistics sectors. Our first international customer is Belgium’s largest recycler UMICORE.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
M.S: In times when the awareness for sustainability is growing but also the scarcity of resources plays an increasing role, the recycling of batteries becomes more and more important. Batteries have many valuable, but unfortunately also partly toxic components.
Nevertheless, in many places they are simply disposed of after the first life cycle, even though they are still intact. This is becoming increasingly costly for companies. We notice that more and more decision-makers are therefore looking for alternatives. Particularly with the trend toward electromobility, there is growing interest in ways to reuse used vehicle batteries.
In Germany, by the way, politicians have also discovered this topic. Preparations are currently underway for a battery passport for electric cars, which should make it easier to recycle vehicle batteries in the future.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
M.S: At the moment, we are the global innovation leader in battery diagnostics using artificial intelligence. We are very proud of our developers and engineers who have made this possible and work every day to further develop our patented technology.
E.E: What estimations do you have for the rest of 2022?
M.S: 2022 is already coming to an end and we are looking forward to the Christmas vacations. It was a very exciting year for us, as we were able to enter into many new collaborations and acquire new customers.
We are currently working feverishly to equip our new clients with test systems and, in parallel, to drive forward research projects, e.g. with the Technical University of Dresden.
And finally, we are looking forward to talking about more of our current customer projects next year and making our unique technology better known abroad.