New Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technology that could bring accurate range prediction and optimised energy efficiency has been awarded a £400,000 (€474,000) Innovate UK grant.

The Co-pilot system will allow drivers to travel further on a single charge; it’s aimed at eliminating range anxiety and battery over-specification

The Co-pilot system is being developed by Hypermile and Spark EV Technology, both specialists in AI-powered tech for the automotive sector, and would allow drivers to travel further on a single charge. It’s aimed at eliminating range anxiety and battery over-specification.

The combined hardware and software solution uses computer vision and artificial intelligence to assess when it is best suited for the vehicle to coast and when to maximise the percentage of regenerative braking, helping to recharge the vehicle’s battery.

It will also 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. It forms part of Spark’s work to replace the driver with driver profiles in its prediction engine depending on the journey requirements, enabling autonomous electric vehicles.

According to the two firms, the solution will benefit the battery electric vehicle market across the board – from the manufacturing process for both electric cars and commercial vehicles, to the end-user.

Jakub Langr, co-founder of Hypermile, 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, CEO of Spark EV Technology, added: “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.”