BYD wants to save battery via GPS: navigation will prep the pack in advance
byd.com
BYD has filed a patent for a predictive thermal system that uses navigation data to prepare the battery in advance, cutting energy losses and extending range.
Chinese BYD has patented a new system aimed at boosting EV efficiency. The technology taps navigation data not just to plot the route, but to fine-tune battery thermal management throughout the entire trip.
Modern EVs already use navigation to forecast energy use, recuperation potential or to precondition the pack ahead of fast charging. BYD is taking it a step further: the system factors in the planned route together with live battery readings to map out the thermal profile of the journey in advance.
The patent is built around a so-called “dual-curve” principle. The software constantly compares the real battery temperature with a target curve calculated for the route, and knows ahead of time when the pack needs heating or, conversely, cooling. That approach avoids abrupt activation of the thermal system and helps cut unnecessary energy losses.
The real goal is not just a comfortable temperature window, but higher efficiency and longer range. Such a system could prove especially valuable for next-generation batteries, including solid-state and sodium-ion cells. Stable operating temperature is critical for them, and smart software can offset a lot of what would otherwise call for costly hardware engineering.
