#Germany #IoT Devices #Nuremberg #Nordic Semiconductor #Fuel Gauge

Introduction

Nordic Semiconductor, a leading name in low-power wireless connectivity solutions, has made a significant leap forward with its latest offering, the Nordic Fuel Gauge v2.0. This innovative battery monitoring solution promises to revolutionize how manufacturers manage the longevity and health of IoT devices by providing precise and adaptive monitoring capabilities.

Features of Fuel Gauge v2.0

The Nordic Fuel Gauge v2.0 introduces a comprehensive upgrade to its battery management system, particularly benefiting the acclaimed power management integrated circuits (PMICs) nPM1300 and nPM1304. This latest version includes intelligent health estimation, adaptive battery modeling, and extensive fleet analysis functionality, designed explicitly for IoT products with limited power consumption. By integrating with Nordic's nRF Cloud powered by Memfault, the Fuel Gauge v2.0 requires no specialized cloud infrastructure, allowing seamless tracking of battery health across devices.

Enhancing Product Longevity

One of the critical advancements made in the Fuel Gauge v2.0 is its ability to allow manufacturers to develop more reliable and sustainable products. This innovation aligns with the EU’s Battery Regulation 2023/1542, which mandates that portable batteries must be easily removable and replaceable by consumers during the product's lifespan. Geir Kjosavik, PMIC Product Director at Nordic Semiconductor, commented, "The real-world performance of batteries rarely matches laboratory conditions. Fuel Gauge v2.0 introduces adaptive, realistic intelligence into the IoT space, typically only found in high-end consumer electronics."

Adaptive Battery Monitoring

The new version relies on advanced algorithms that continually compare the original battery profile with actual performance during operation. This adaptive model ensures accurate state-of-health (SoH) estimates over time, which is crucial for tracking battery cycles and degradation trends, thereby maintaining accuracy ratings even in older batteries. For devices with multiple batteries, Nordic's algorithm can manage and monitor each battery's state, enhancing overall device performance.

Advantages Over Traditional Solutions

Traditional fuel gauge ICs often depend on fixed models or simple Coulomb counting, which may lead to inaccuracies as batteries age. In contrast, the Nordic solution employs existing voltage, temperature, and current measurements within the nPM1300, coupled with a smart host-based algorithm. This maximizes measurement accuracy while minimizing system costs, reducing complexity, and ensuring zero power consumption during idle states—resulting in significant energy savings.

Compliance and Maintenance

The introduction of replacement battery regulations has made SoH functionalities essential for contemporary devices. Fuel Gauge v2.0 helps manufacturers determine optimal replacement timings, promotes repair initiatives, enhances product reliability, and lowers warranty costs. For companies managing thousands or millions of battery-operated devices, clarity regarding battery health becomes an indispensable tool for ensuring reliability and optimizing lifecycle costs.

Fleet Management via nRF Cloud

Incorporating the Fuel Gauge v2.0 within Nordic's lifecycle services—nRF Cloud powered by Memfault—allows automatic reporting of SoH, state-of-charge (SoC), and operational data from devices without needing custom cloud infrastructure. Technical and maintenance teams can efficiently monitor battery conditions across entire fleets, detect anomalies, optimize charging parameters, and refine future hardware designs based on real-world data.

François Baldassari, founder of Memfault and VP of Software Services at Nordic Semiconductor, emphasized, "Memfault aims to provide every hardware team with access to insightful device data. The integration of Fuel Gauge v2.0 into the nRF Cloud offers companies robust, scalable options to understand and enhance the behavior of their entire device fleets, showcasing the future of battery intelligence."

Compatibility and Availability

Fuel Gauge v2.0 is compatible with any host MCU or Wireless System-on-Chip, including the nRF54 and nRF91 series, making it easy for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) to equip almost any connected device with cutting-edge battery intelligence. Currently in beta testing, Nordic plans to roll out the Fuel Gauge v2.0 widely in the second quarter of 2026.

Conclusion

This innovative battery management solution will debut at the Embedded World 2026 event from March 10-12, where attendees can witness real-time battery health reporting for devices with varying health states, supported by adaptive intelligence and nRF Cloud integration. Visit Nordic Semiconductor for exciting product demonstrations at Hall 4A, Stand 310 during the event.