Nordic Semiconductor has released Fuel Gauge v2.0 for its nPM1300 and nPM1304 power management ICs. The new version adds battery State-of-Health monitoring alongside State-of-Charge estimation and is available through nRF Connect SDK 3.4.0-rc2.
The software uses voltage, temperature, and current measurements already available from the two PMICs. Nordic says no separate fuel-gauge IC is required, with the estimation algorithm instead running on a host MCU or wireless SoC.
Tracking Battery Health Over Time
Fuel Gauge v2.0 adds an adaptive model that compares the original battery profile with its behavior during operation. The resulting State-of-Health estimate is correlated with charge cycle count to track degradation as the battery ages. This extends the State-of-Charge functionality introduced with the first version of Nordic's fuel gauge software.
According to the company, the updated model is intended to maintain estimation accuracy across the product lifetime rather than relying on a fixed battery profile.
For products that use interchangeable battery packs, the algorithm can track the State-of-Health of each pack separately.
No Dedicated Fuel-Gauge IC
The software works with the measurement functions built into the nPM1300 and nPM1304. Battery voltage, current, and temperature data are processed by a host-based algorithm, removing the need for a separate fuel-gauge device.
Nordic states that the algorithm can run on any host MCU or wireless SoC. This includes its nRF54 and nRF91 families as well as non-Nordic processors.
Because the algorithm runs on the host rather than a dedicated always-on gauge IC, Nordic also specifies zero additional fuel-gauge power consumption while the system is asleep.
Battery Data Across Deployed Devices
Fuel Gauge v2.0 can also report State-of-Health, State-of-Charge, and other battery performance data to nRF Cloud powered by Memfault. This gives engineering teams a way to compare battery behavior across deployed products rather than examining devices individually.
Nordic positions this capability for identifying abnormal degradation, reviewing charging parameters, and using field data during later hardware revisions. The company also links longer-term battery monitoring with replacement planning and emerging requirements around user-replaceable batteries.
Fuel Gauge v2.0 is available now through nPM PowerUP and nRF Connect SDK 3.4.0-rc2.
Learn more and read the original announcement at Nordic Semiconductor's website.
Technology Overview
Nordic Fuel Gauge v2.0 is a host-based battery monitoring solution for systems using the nPM1300 and nPM1304 PMICs. It adds State-of-Health estimation to existing State-of-Charge functionality using voltage, current, and temperature measurements from the PMIC, without requiring a separate fuel-gauge IC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Nordic PMICs support Fuel Gauge v2.0?
Nordic Fuel Gauge v2.0 supports the nPM1300 and nPM1304 power management ICs. The software uses battery voltage, current, and temperature measurements provided by these devices.
Does Nordic Fuel Gauge v2.0 require a separate fuel-gauge IC?
No. The algorithm runs on a host MCU or wireless SoC and uses measurement data from the nPM1300 or nPM1304. Nordic states that it can run on nRF54 and nRF91 devices as well as non-Nordic hosts.
Can Nordic Fuel Gauge v2.0 track battery State-of-Health?
Yes. Version 2.0 adds State-of-Health estimation using an adaptive model that compares the original battery profile with observed behavior over time. It can also track individual battery packs separately in products that use interchangeable packs.
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