Volvo has partnered with Breathe Battery Technologies (Breathe), becoming the first car company to get access to the latest version of its patented, algorithm-enabled charging software for use on its new electric cars.
“The investment and commercial partnership with Breathe helps Volvo address a familiar pain point for electric car customers and makes our charging performance even more competitive,” says Ann-Sofie Ekberg, CEO of the Volvo Cars Tech Fund. “Faster charging times, in the range where customers typically fast charge, represent a major step in the right direction as we continue to boost electric mobility and make it available to more people.”
By integrating Breathe’s software in Volvo’s battery management platform to optimize and improve the performance of its charging technology, Breathe software can provide Volvo customers with even faster charging times and an enhanced overall driving and charging experience.
Volvo expects the new software will reduce the time to charge from 10 to 80 percent charging state by as much as 30 percent. The software also maintains the battery’s energy density and range. The charging time improvements will last across the full battery life cycle without impacting its health status.
The collaboration with Breathe is the result of a sourcing agreement for its flagship product, Breathe Charge, and represents the latest investment by the Volvo Cars Tech Fund, the brand’s corporate venture capital arm. It reflects Volvo’s ambition to lead development of premium electric cars and become a fully electric car maker by 2030.
Breathe is a London-based start-up that develops battery management software with the aim of contributing to faster and more sustainable electrification.
Unlike traditional stepped charging which relies on pre-determined rules, Breathe’s software uses adaptive charging to dynamically control the battery in real-time, resulting in significantly shorter charging times.
The software manages the charging process in line with the battery’s health to deliver the best driver experience while avoiding the risk of lithium plating, which can harm the battery’s performance and lifespan.
Volvo’s investment in Breathe helps position the brand for an all-electric future, but it also fits with its ambitions of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions and becoming a circular business by 2040.
The technology achieves reduced charging times without the need to change battery pack design or mine extra materials.
Since it is fully compatible with the hardware used in the company’s new-generation fully electric cars, scaling will be easier as Volvo expects electric sales to increase significantly in coming years.
“We’re very pleased with this investment and sourcing agreement with Volvo Cars and support their exciting journey towards full electrification,” says Dr. Ian Campbell, CEO of Breathe Battery Technologies. “Deploying Breathe technology at scale on Volvo’s next generation EV platform opens doors to innovative car designs and performance improvements. We share a profound passion for electric mobility, and convenient, fast charging is one of the cornerstone enablers for the future we strive toward.”
