For use on its new generation EVs (electric vehicles), Volvo Cars has partnered with London-based startup Breathe Battery Technologies for its patented, algorithm-enabled charging software to provide its EV customers with faster charging times and an enhanced overall driving and charging experience. With the investment and sourcing agreement, it will be the first car company to get access to the latest version of Breathe’s software, which will be integrated into its in-house-developed battery management platform.

Volvo expects it will reduce the time it takes to charge a fully electric Volvo from 10% to 80% charging state by as much as 30% (with tests indicating charge time improvements ranging from 15-30%) while maintaining the same energy density and range. In addition, 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 Breathe Charge product. It represents the latest investment by the Volvo Cars Tech Fund corporate venture capital arm. It reflects Volvo’s ambition to lead the development of premium electric cars and become a fully electric car maker by 2030.

“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,” said Ann-Sofie Ekberg, CEO of 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.”

As Volvo explains, unlike traditional stepped charging that 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. 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.

“We’re very pleased with this investment and sourcing agreement with Volvo Cars and support their exciting journey towards full electrification,” said Dr. Ian Campbell, CEO of Breathe Battery Technologies. “Deploying our technology at scale on Volvo’s next-generation EV platform opens doors to innovative car designs and performance improvements.”

Since it is fully compatible with the hardware used in Volvo’s new generation of fully electric cars, scaling will be easy as it expects electric sales to increase significantly in the coming years.

The Volvo investment in Breathe also fits with the company’s ambitions of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and becoming a circular business by 2040. While reducing charging times for cars, the technology achieves this without the need to change battery pack design or mine extra materials without additional environmental impacts.

The deal with Breathe is just the latest for Volvo Cars Tech Fund. In January, it announced an investment in Leadrive, a Shanghai-based company founded in 2017 that it says is an exciting new player in power electronics and control units for fully electric cars. This investment was part of a new funding round by Leadrive, giving the Tech Fund a small minority stake in the company.

On our road toward becoming a fully electric car maker by 2030, an important focus area for Volvo’s technology investments and R&D spending is e-motors, inverters, and overall electric drivetrain optimization. The company believes that, by gaining control over its electrification technology stack and becoming more vertically integrated, it can create electric cars that deliver what customers want: longer range, faster charging, and a great Volvo driving experience.

Leadrive specializes in designing and building power modules that use silicon carbide (SiC) technology that promises to unlock highly efficient and flexible electric propulsion systems.

“Volvo Cars and Leadrive have been working very closely on the development of new generation SiC technologies, which has built a firm stairway towards the strategic collaboration,” said Jie Shen, Founder and CEO of Leadrive. “This is a great milestone in Leadrive’s global strategy and demonstrates the huge potential of our cooperation in advanced electrification technology.”

The investment in Leadrive fits with a Volvo electrification roadmap focused on vertical integration and doubling down on critical technology investments in recent years. For example, the company brought the development and manufacturing of e-motors and inverters in-house while also developing its battery management software. In addition, it is investing in the development and production of its own battery packs through Novo Energy, a joint venture together with Northvolt to optimize battery chemistry and its integration in cars.

The investments in batteries, e-motors, inverters, and battery management software allow the company to control the entire electrical propulsion system in our fully electric cars.