Abstract We present a physics-inspired input/output predictor of lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) for online state-of-charge (SOC) prediction. The complex electrochemical behavior of batteries results in nonlinear and high-dimensional dynamics. Accurate SOC prediction is paramount for increased performance, improved operational safety, and extended longevity of LiBs. The battery's internal parameters are cell-dependent and change with operating conditions and battery health variations. We present a data-driven solution to discover governing equations pertaining to SOC dynamics from battery operando measurements. Our approach relaxes the need for detailed knowledge of the battery's composition while maintaining prediction fidelity. The predictor consists of a library of candidate terms and a set of coefficients found via a sparsity-promoting algorithm. The library was enhanced with explicit physics-inspired terms to improve the predictor's interpretability and generalizability. Further, we developed a Monte Carlo search of additional nonlinear terms to efficiently explore the high-dimensional search space and improve the characterization of highly nonlinear behaviors. Also, we developed a hyperparameter autotuning approach for identifying optimal coefficients that balance accuracy and complexity. The resulting SOC predictor achieved high predictive performance scores (RMSE) of 2.2×10−6 and 4.8×10−4, respectively, for training and validation on experimental results corresponding to a stochastic drive cycle. Furthermore, the predictor achieved an RMSE of 8.5×10−4 on unseen battery measurements corresponding to the standard US06 drive cycle, further showcasing the adaptability of the predictor and the enhanced modeling approach to new conditions.