Volvo Cars is collaborating with Breathe Battery Technologies (Breathe), becoming the first automotive company to access the latest version of patented intelligent charging software using an algorithm for its all-electric vehicles. Breathe is a start-up that develops battery management software aimed at faster, better, and more sustainable electrification.
By integrating Breathe’s software into Volvo Cars' in-house developed battery management platform to optimize performance and charging, Volvo customers will be able to charge even faster with an improved overall driving experience.
The new technology will reduce charging time for your fully electric Volvo from 10 to 80% charge by up to 30%*. Even better: the charging time improvements will persist across the battery's full life cycle without affecting its health.
“Investment and commercial partnership with Breathe help us address a common pain point for electric car customers and make our charging even more competitive,” says Ann-Sofie Ekberg, CEO of Volvo Cars Tech Fund. “Faster charging times, in the range where customers typically fast charge, represent a big step in the right direction as we continue to drive electric mobility and make it accessible to more people.”
Software-defined batteries
Unlike traditional stepped charging, which relies on predefined rules, Breathe’s software uses adaptive charging to dynamically manage the battery in real-time, resulting in significantly shorter charging times.
Using algorithms, the software manages the charging process in accordance with battery health while avoiding the risk of lithium plating, which can harm performance and battery life.
Investing in Breathe helps build an all-electric future but also fits into Volvo Cars’ ambitions to achieve climate neutrality by 2040. The technology achieves reduced charging times for the brand's electric vehicles without the need for battery redesign or additional material mining, avoiding further environmental impact.
“We are very pleased with this investment and supply agreement with Volvo Cars and support their exciting journey toward full electrification,” says Dr. Ian Campbell, CEO of Breathe Battery Technologies. “Deploying our technology at scale on Volvo’s next-generation electric vehicle platform opens doors to innovative car design and performance improvements. We share a deep passion for electric mobility, and convenient, fast charging is one of the core drivers for the future we strive for.”
*Different battery packs will result in different charging times. Tests show charging time improvements in the range of 15-30%.
