Stakeholder Analysis of Digital Twins for Battery Systems

In line with the trend towards electrification, vehicle energy storage is gaining relevance as the most ex-pensive element of electric cars. Since lithium-ion batteries are perishable goods and are subject to, for instance, aging effects, environmental and operating conditions during manufacturing and car usage need close supervision. With regard to the paradigm of digital twins, data from various life cycle phases can be collected and analyzed to deliver services. To fill the gap in literature, this paper describes a mixed methods-based stakeholder analysis of digital twins for battery systems resulting in a formalized, relational data set. We identify stakeholders in six life cycle stages and cluster them according to their interest and activity to form groups. Further on, relationships between interests and actions are examined to provide a deeper understanding of the complexity of interests and the underlying technical parameters. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and battery system manufacturer followed by car users are identified as the most critical stakeholders with the most interest in, and ability to take action towards, a digital battery twin. Further on, due to the cross-linked nature of battery systems and its digital services, many more specialized stakeholders occur.