Exploiting Artificial Neural Networks for the State of Charge Estimation in EV/HV Battery Systems: A Review

Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) improve battery management in electric vehicles (EVs) by enhancing the safety, durability, and reliability of electrochemical batteries, particularly through improvements in the State of Charge (SOC) estimation. EV batteries operate under demanding conditions, which can affect performance and, in extreme cases, lead to critical failures such as thermal runaway—an exothermic chain reaction that may result in overheating, fires, and even explosions. Addressing these risks requires advanced diagnostic and management strategies, and machine learning presents a powerful solution due to its ability to adapt across multiple facets of battery management. The versatility of ML enables its application to material discovery, model development, quality control, real-time monitoring, charge optimization, and fault detection, positioning it as an essential technology for modern battery management systems. Specifically, ANN models excel at detecting subtle, complex patterns that reflect battery health and performance, crucial for accurate SOC estimation. The effectiveness of ML applications in this domain, however, is highly dependent on the selection of quality datasets, relevant features, and suitable algorithms. Advanced techniques such as active learning are being explored to enhance ANN model performance by improving the models’ responsiveness to diverse and nuanced battery behavior. This compact survey consolidates recent advances in machine learning for SOC estimation, analyzing the current state of the field and highlighting the challenges and opportunities that remain. By structuring insights from the extensive literature, this paper aims to establish ANNs as a foundational tool in next-generation battery management systems, ultimately supporting safer and more efficient EVs through real-time fault detection, accurate SOC estimation, and robust safety protocols. Future research directions include refining dataset quality, optimizing algorithm selection, and enhancing diagnostic precision, thereby broadening ANNs’ role in ensuring reliable battery management in electric vehicles. © 2025 by the authors.