Forecasting When Used Electric Car Batteries Will Be Available for Reuse
This patent describes a system that predicts when electric vehicles will reach the end of their useful life and how much capacity their batteries will still have, to forecast the future supply of batteries that can be reused in other applications.
Original patent title: “Recycled secondary battery supply forecast system and recycled secondary battery supply forecast usage”
This patent describes a system that predicts when electric vehicles will reach the end of their useful life and how much capacity their batteries will still have, to forecast the future supply of batteries that can be reused in other applications. Granted to NEC in 2017 with 12 claims and 5 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2032.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This system, often a central server, collects two main types of information from many vehicles: performance data about their secondary batteries (like total capacity or maximum output current) and state data about the vehicle itself (like total travel distance or hours used) (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). It then uses the historical trends of this data to make two key predictions. First, it forecasts when each vehicle will reach its 'end of life,' which is defined by a specific travel distance or amount of time used (ClaimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → 1, 2, 3). Second, it predicts the battery's performance (e.g., remaining capacity) at that vehicle's end of life (Claims 1, 4, 5). Finally, the system combines all these individual vehicle and battery predictions to forecast the total number of recyclable batteries that will become available during a future period, considering their type and expected performance for reuse in separate devices (Claim 1). For example, if a fleet of delivery vans reports their mileage and battery health, the system can predict how many usable batteries will be ready for a second life in energy storage systems next year.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover forecasting for batteries that are not originally mounted on vehicles (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover forecasting the end of a vehicle's life without using historical state information, such as past travel distance or used hours (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover forecasting battery performance without using historical performance information, such as past total capacity or maximum output current (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover forecasting for batteries that are not intended for reuse in 'separate devices' after their vehicle's end of life (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover systems where the vehicle's 'end of life' is not determined by a predetermined travel distance or used hours (ClaimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → 1, 2, 3).
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever part is linking the predicted end of a vehicle's operational life to the predicted remaining performance of its battery, then aggregating these predictions to forecast a future supply of reusable batteries.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Electric vehicle fleet management systems
Battery recycling and remanufacturing programs
Companies planning for grid-scale energy storage using second-life EV batteries
Automotive manufacturers developing battery reuse strategies
Why it matters
The bigger picture
As electric vehicles become more common, there will be a growing need to manage and reuse their large batteries efficiently. This patent addresses the challenge of predicting the supply of these 'second-life' batteries, which can then be used for other purposes like grid energy storage. Accurate forecasting helps industries plan for resource availability, optimize recycling processes, and build new markets for used battery technology. It supports a more sustainable approach to battery lifecycle management.
Filed
March 23, 2012
Granted
October 17, 2017
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
NEC Corp, the original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, continues to be active in smart energy solutions and IT services, which could involve such forecasting systems. Companies like Tesla, BYD, and Volkswagen, which produce electric vehicles, are also heavily invested in battery lifecycle management and might develop similar internal forecasting capabilities. Startups in the battery recycling and second-life battery market, such as Redwood Materials or B2U Storage Solutions, would also benefit from and likely implement such predictive analytics.
Market impact
This type of forecasting system helps create a more predictable supply chain for used electric vehicle batteries. Before such systems, the availability of second-life batteries was harder to predict, making it difficult for industries to plan for their reuse in applications like stationary energy storage. By offering a clearer picture of future supply, this technology enables better investment decisions in battery repurposing infrastructure and facilitates the growth of a circular economy for EV batteries, potentially reducing reliance on new raw material extraction.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This system, often a central server, collects two main types of information from many vehicles: performance data about their secondary batteries (like total capacity or maximum output current) and state data about the vehicle itself (like total travel distance or hours used) (Claim 1). It then uses the historical trends of this data to make two key predictions. First, it forecasts when each vehicle will reach its 'end of life,' which is defined by a specific travel distance or amount of time used (Claims 1, 2, 3). Second, it predicts the battery's performance (e.g., remaining capacity) at that vehicle's end of life (Claims 1, 4, 5). Finally, the system combines all these individual vehicle and battery predictions to forecast the total number of recyclable batteries that will become available during a future period, considering their type and expected performance for reuse in separate devices (Claim 1). For example, if a fleet of delivery vans reports their mileage and battery health, the system can predict how many usable batteries will be ready for a second life in energy storage systems next year.
The clever bit
The clever part is linking the predicted end of a vehicle's operational life to the predicted remaining performance of its battery, then aggregating these predictions to forecast a future supply of reusable batteries.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover forecasting for batteries that are not originally mounted on vehicles (Claim 1).
- Does not cover forecasting the end of a vehicle's life without using historical state information, such as past travel distance or used hours (Claim 1).
- Does not cover forecasting battery performance without using historical performance information, such as past total capacity or maximum output current (Claim 1).
- Does not cover forecasting for batteries that are not intended for reuse in 'separate devices' after their vehicle's end of life (Claim 1).
- Does not cover systems where the vehicle's 'end of life' is not determined by a predetermined travel distance or used hours (Claims 1, 2, 3).
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
16/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
8/20
Moderate scope
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$39K – $126K
Midpoint $79K · 5.5 yr remaining · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Patent Claims
0 independent claims · 1 dependent
Claims are the legal boundaries of the patent. An independent claim stands alone. A dependent claim adds limitations to its parent, narrowing — but not broadening — the scope.
The original legal language
Original claims
12 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Nishizawa, T. (2017). Forecasting When Used Electric Car Batteries Will Be Available for Reuse (U.S. Patent No. 9,791,514). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9791514/recycled-secondary-battery-supply-forecast-system-and-recycled-secondary-battery
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US9791514"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
Semantically similar
You might also find these interesting
US 9397374 · 2016 · Hitachi Automotive Systems
How to Grade Used Batteries for a Second Life
US 20240186800 · Mirai Labo Co
How a System Tracks and Transfers Rechargeable Batteries Between Users
US 9168838 · 2015 · NEC
How an EV Charging Station Manages Power from Batteries and the Grid
US 20250246702 · Posco Co
Mobile Factories for Recycling Used Electric Vehicle Batteries
More to explore
More in Energy & Clean Tech
US RE49155 · 2022 · Halliburton Energy Services Inc
Electric or Natural Gas Blending and Pumping for Oil Wells
US 11436484 · 2022 · Nvidia Corp
Nvidia's Method for Training Self-Driving Car AI in Simulations
US 11840398 · 2023 · Titan Trailers Inc
How Titan Trailers Builds Stronger, Smoother Cargo Containers
US 2708656 · 1955
How the First Nuclear Reactor Works
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Forecasting When Used Electric Car Batteries Will Be Available for Reuse cover?
This patent describes a system that predicts when electric vehicles will reach the end of their useful life and how much capacity their batteries will still have, to forecast the future supply of batteries that can be reused in other applications.
Who owns patent US 9791514?
NEC owns this patent, granted in 2017.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on March 23, 2032, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9791514 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 5 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
As electric vehicles become more common, there will be a growing need to manage and reuse their large batteries efficiently. This patent addresses the challenge of predicting the supply of these 'second-life' batteries, which can then be used for other purposes like grid energy storage. Accurate forecasting helps industries plan for resource availability, optimize recycling processes, and build new markets for used battery technology. It supports a more sustainable approach to battery lifecycle management.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover forecasting for batteries that are not originally mounted on vehicles (Claim 1).
Same assignee
More from NEC
Patent monitoring