Startup Stories: Bringing Transparency to the Used EV Market
A conversation with Jinqiang Ning ’25, whose startup assesses battery health and remaining life of EV battery packs to make the used EV market more transparent.
In this series, Karen Guzman talks to student and alumni entrepreneurs about how they are making an impact with their startups.
Founders: CEO Jinqiang Ning ’25 and CPO Wenbo Xiang ’25
Venture: EVident Battery has developed comprehensive inspection technology for electric vehicle (EV) battery packs. The process uses vibration analysis, machine learning, and robotic mobility to assess battery health conditions and estimate a battery pack’s remaining useful life and financial value. The goal is to improve transparency in the used EV market.
What was the moment when you had the idea for this startup?
The concept for this venture emerged during a discussion with a peer about the challenges of buying and selling used EVs. Our conversation highlighted the issue of inadequate battery service and inspection in the EV sales market. Recognizing an opportunity to tackle the problem, I teamed up with my classmate Wenbo to launch our venture. Leveraging our combined engineering skills and machine learning knowledge, we embarked on extensive research.
What’s the problem you’re trying to solve or the gap that you’re trying to fill?
A battery pack accounts for 30% to 40% of an EV’s value. The currently available technology in the EV inspection market narrowly focuses on battery cell measurements alone. But an EV battery pack, a critical component for EV safety and performance, is much more than the battery cell.
An insufficient inspection poses significant financial and safety risks to the stakeholders in the market, including EV dealerships, auto service/repair shops, car fleet managements, and individual owners. EVident Battery’s hardware-software combined technology provides a fast, cost-effective way to determine the health and financial values of EVs.
What was the most important resource Yale SOM contributed to your startup?
Numerous Yale resources have benefitted us. We’ve leveraged mentorships and networks from the Yale SOM Program on Entrepreneurship, the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale, the Yale Center for Business and the Environment, and the Yale Center for Innovation and Design. We’ve also expanded our network beyond the university. As members of the New Haven-based ClimateHaven incubator, we’ve introduced our company to investors and industrial experts.
What’s the biggest milestone your startup has hit?
Some of our milestones include building two versions of our prototype and filing our provisional IP and trademark. We’ve also initiated an angel investment round of fundraising and finalized negotiations with several venture capitalists and local investors.
Wenbo Xiang is a recipient of the Nancy Pfund '82 Social Impact Award and the Henry F. McCance Entrepreneurial Award (Summer 2024).
