Forging a path toward more efficient and rapid electric vehicle charging, Volvo Cars has recently announced an exciting collaboration with Breathe Battery Technologies. This partnership brings a transformative upgrade to Volvo’s next-generation fully electric vehicles through Breathe’s cutting-edge charging software.
Enhanced Charging Experiences
Volvo Cars aspires to elevate the user experience by integrating the novel software crafted by Breathe into its proprietary battery management system. The goal is to significantly accelerate charging speeds for Volvo customers, providing a seamless driving and charging journey.
This new technology is set to substantially lessen the charging duration needed for a Volvo electric vehicle to reach an 80 percent charge from a 10 percent starting point. Impressively, this reduction could be by as much as 30 percent*, without compromising energy density or driving range. Moreover, the charging efficiency improvements are designed to persist throughout the entire lifetime of the battery without affecting its health.
Via the collaboration with Breathe, birthed by a sourcing deal for Breathe Charge, Volvo demonstrates its dedication to crafting premium electric vehicles. It’s a strategic move aligned with Volvo Cars Tech Fund, the company’s forward-thinking venture capital arm, reinforcing its 2030 ambition of becoming a fully electric car manufacturer.
Driving Towards a Greener Future
Breathe, hailing from London, is a dynamic startup united with Volvo in its commitment to promoting electric mobility. Breathe prides itself on developing innovative battery management software to grease the wheels of electrification across the globe.
Ann-Sofie Ekberg, CEO of the Volvo Cars Tech Fund, highlights the mutual benefits of this alliance, stressing the importance of competitive charging performance and the enhanced customer experience it fosters.
Software-Defined Batteries: A Game Changer
Traditional battery charging methods could soon be a thing of the past with Breathe’s algorithm-driven, adaptive charging technique. This intelligent system continuously fine-tunes the charging process in real-time, catering to the battery’s condition, ensuring peak performance, and reducing the possibility of lithium plating – a culprit in battery degradation.
The investment in Breathe doesn’t just prop up Volvo’s electrification roadmap; it is also a stepping stone toward its larger climate aspirations. Promising reduced charge times, the Breathe technology fulfills these promises without necessitating changes to battery designs or incurring additional environmental costs.
Moreover, the technology’s compatibility with the hardware of Volvo’s new electric cars signals a smooth scaling process as the company anticipates a surge in electric vehicle sales.
Reflecting on the partnership, Dr. Ian Campbell, CEO of Breathe Battery Technologies, celebrates this milestone and its potential to catalyze novel car designs and bolster overall vehicle performance. According to Campbell, expedient and accessible charging remains fundamental to the shared vision of an electrically powered future.
Since its inception in 2018, the Volvo Cars Tech Fund has strategically invested in startups and technologies that are reshaping the automotive landscape, focusing on electrification, AI, autonomous driving, sustainability, and the digital marketplace.
*Please note that charging performance improvements may vary based on different battery pack specifications, with expected enhancements ranging from 15–30%.
Volvo Cars: A Year of Records in 2023
In 2023, Volvo Car Group achieved an unprecedented core operating profit of SEK 25.6 billion, bolstered by the highest-ever revenue of SEK 399.3 billion. Additionally, the group celebrated record car sales with a total of 708,716 vehicles reaching customers worldwide, marking a celebratory year for the brand.
