Volvo and Breathe deal for faster EV charging

Volvo Cars has partnered with Breathe Battery Technologies to get access to the latest version of its patented algorithm-enabled charging software for use on new generation EVs.

By integrating Breathe’s software in Volvo Cars in-house developed battery management platform to optimise and improve the performance of Volvo’s charging technology, it can provide Volvo customers with even faster charging times and an enhanced overall driving and charging experience, says Volvo Cars.

“We will implement the new technology in our new generation fully electric cars, where we expect it will reduce the time it takes to charge your fully electric Volvo from 10 to 80% charging state by as much as 30%, while maintaining the same energy density and range,” the company says.

“Even better; 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, its corporate venture capital arm.

“It reflects our ambition to lead the development of premium electric cars and become a fully electric car maker by 2030,” says Volvo Cars.

 Breathe is a London-based start-up that develops battery management software with the aim of contributing to faster, better and more sustainable electrification.

“The investment and commercial partnership with Breathe helps us address a familiar pain point for electric car customers and makes our charging performance even more competitive,” says Volvo Cars Tech Fund chief executive Ann-Sofie Ekberg.

“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.”

Breathe’s software uses adaptive charging to dynamically control the battery in real-time, resulting in significantly shorter charging times.

Using algorithms, 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, says Volvo Cars.

“Our investment in Breathe helps position us for an all-electric future, but it also fits with our ambitions of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions and becoming a circular business by 2040. “While reducing charging times for our cars, the technology achieves this without the need to change battery pack design or mine extra materials, without additional environmental impacts.”

Volvo Cars says the Breathe system is fully compatible with hardware used in its new generation fully electric cars.

“Scaling will be easy as we expect our electric sales to increase significantly in coming years.”

Deploying Breathe’s technology at scale on Volvo’s next generation EV platform opens doors to innovative car designs and performance improvements, says Breathe Battery Technologies chief executive Dr Ian Campbell.

“Fast charging is one of the cornerstone enablers for the future we strive towards.”

The Volvo Cars Tech Fund was established in 2018 to invest in companies and technology areas that transform the automotive industry, such as electrification, artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous driving, sustainability, and digital commerce.