Blab Tech
WireFlow Launches Bifrost Platform to Support EV Battery Lifecycle Management
WireFlow AB, the Swedish test‑and‑measurement electronics supplier, unveiled its new WireFlow Bifrost platform at the Battery Recycling Expo in Frankfurt on 12 June 2026. The platform is engineered to support electric‑vehicle (EV) battery life‑cycle management, from assessing battery‑pack state of health (SoH) to qualifying units for second‑life reuse and safely discharging them before recycling.
The announcement arrives as the European Union prepares to enforce an updated Battery Directive that obliges manufacturers and recyclers to supply detailed data on battery performance and safety. WireFlow’s own description emphasizes its focus on advanced electronics and software for test and measurement applications. According to Mårten Aurelius, head of WireFlow’s battery business unit, the shift toward circular‑economy principles has amplified the demand for high‑fidelity data.
Bifrost offers “complete test control and automation,” letting users script and execute custom performance, endurance, and safety test scenarios. The system can conduct automated end‑of‑line testing and charging, ensuring consistency, traceability, and readiness for shipment or integration. It also supports controlled discharging and classification, enabling safe energy recovery that readies batteries for dismantling or recycling.
Alongside the platform, WireFlow released the 5200 Series of off‑the‑shelf components for high‑performance battery‑cell monitoring and balancing. The series includes the WF 5218 Battery Monitoring and Balancing Node, the WF 5220 USB gateway, and the WF 5221 EtherCAT gateway. WireFlow claims the new system simplifies building a battery‑cell monitoring and balancing solution. The 5200 Series is already in use by a leading global automotive manufacturer in its battery repair and refurbishment centers, according to Aurelius.
The EV battery end‑of‑life market is expanding rapidly. Earlier this year, Stena Recycling—a Swedish recycler that has integrated EV battery testing and repurposing into its business model—projected that the market will generate $28 billion in economic activity worldwide over the next decade. Marcus Martinsson, product area manager for batteries at Stena, said the company’s activities will include materials recycling and the reuse of automotive batteries that still retain usable capacity.
Other major European recyclers are also scaling up their battery‑handling capabilities. United Kingdom‑based EMR Ltd., which recycles thousands of end‑of‑life vehicles each week across more than 60 sites, stated in 2023 that it must maintain its market‑leading position as a sustainable, responsible, and efficient recycler of EV batteries.
Bifrost’s ability to deliver detailed SoH data and automate safety and quality tests positions it as a tool that can help recyclers and refurbishers meet the technical and regulatory requirements of the updated EU Battery Directive. By enabling precise monitoring, balancing, and controlled discharging, the platform supports the safe transition of batteries from vehicle use to second‑life applications or recycling streams.
WireFlow’s launch comes at a time when the EV battery supply chain is under increasing scrutiny. The company’s emphasis on traceability and data acquisition aligns with the directive’s focus on accountability for battery production, use, and disposal.
At present, the Bifrost platform is available for order, and the 5200 Series components are already being deployed by automotive manufacturers. No further product releases or regulatory decisions have been announced beyond the platform’s introduction at the Battery Recycling Expo. The industry will continue to monitor how the new tools influence battery recycling practices and compliance with the EU Battery Directive.
The announcement arrives as the European Union prepares to enforce an updated Battery Directive that obliges manufacturers and recyclers to supply detailed data on battery performance and safety. WireFlow’s own description emphasizes its focus on advanced electronics and software for test and measurement applications. According to Mårten Aurelius, head of WireFlow’s battery business unit, the shift toward circular‑economy principles has amplified the demand for high‑fidelity data.
Bifrost offers “complete test control and automation,” letting users script and execute custom performance, endurance, and safety test scenarios. The system can conduct automated end‑of‑line testing and charging, ensuring consistency, traceability, and readiness for shipment or integration. It also supports controlled discharging and classification, enabling safe energy recovery that readies batteries for dismantling or recycling.
Alongside the platform, WireFlow released the 5200 Series of off‑the‑shelf components for high‑performance battery‑cell monitoring and balancing. The series includes the WF 5218 Battery Monitoring and Balancing Node, the WF 5220 USB gateway, and the WF 5221 EtherCAT gateway. WireFlow claims the new system simplifies building a battery‑cell monitoring and balancing solution. The 5200 Series is already in use by a leading global automotive manufacturer in its battery repair and refurbishment centers, according to Aurelius.
The EV battery end‑of‑life market is expanding rapidly. Earlier this year, Stena Recycling—a Swedish recycler that has integrated EV battery testing and repurposing into its business model—projected that the market will generate $28 billion in economic activity worldwide over the next decade. Marcus Martinsson, product area manager for batteries at Stena, said the company’s activities will include materials recycling and the reuse of automotive batteries that still retain usable capacity.
Other major European recyclers are also scaling up their battery‑handling capabilities. United Kingdom‑based EMR Ltd., which recycles thousands of end‑of‑life vehicles each week across more than 60 sites, stated in 2023 that it must maintain its market‑leading position as a sustainable, responsible, and efficient recycler of EV batteries.
Bifrost’s ability to deliver detailed SoH data and automate safety and quality tests positions it as a tool that can help recyclers and refurbishers meet the technical and regulatory requirements of the updated EU Battery Directive. By enabling precise monitoring, balancing, and controlled discharging, the platform supports the safe transition of batteries from vehicle use to second‑life applications or recycling streams.
WireFlow’s launch comes at a time when the EV battery supply chain is under increasing scrutiny. The company’s emphasis on traceability and data acquisition aligns with the directive’s focus on accountability for battery production, use, and disposal.
At present, the Bifrost platform is available for order, and the 5200 Series components are already being deployed by automotive manufacturers. No further product releases or regulatory decisions have been announced beyond the platform’s introduction at the Battery Recycling Expo. The industry will continue to monitor how the new tools influence battery recycling practices and compliance with the EU Battery Directive.
