About us
We don’t just work with batteries.
We live and breathe them.
We do more with the power we have
56
Talented team members & counting
18
Nationalities
17
PhDs
149
Years of battery engineering experience
411
Atmospheric C02 at founding (ppm)
2
Workplaces in London
14,791
Coffees consumed
We love batteries
Your laptop battery is low and the meeting started five minutes ago. Your car needs charging and your family are too tired for another stop. Your headphones don't last like they used to, and you're carrying your charger around for your ageing smartphone. We know the feeling. But it doesn't have to be like that.
We've accrued nearly a century of battery engineering expertise and have concentrated it on fundamental issues with today's batteries. We've built the products we've always longed for and with them, your products can fulfil their full potential.
Welcome to Breathe. We make your batteries better.
We've accrued nearly a century of battery engineering expertise and have concentrated it on fundamental issues with today's batteries. We've built the products we've always longed for and with them, your products can fulfil their full potential.
Welcome to Breathe. We make your batteries better.
Meet our founders
DR Ian Campbell
CEO Dr Ian Campbell (PhD, MSc, BE Hons)
Ian is passionate about mathematics, computing and batteries. He cares about climate protection and dreams of a world with clean air. He’s excited by a future with electric cars, boats and aircraft but frustrated by the barriers imposed by current battery technologies. In response, he began researching lithium-ion batteries at Imperial College London in 2015. In 2019 he graduated with a PhD in the topic and experience consulting to a range of industries. Today, he merges his passions at Breathe, where he and his team are working to overcome those barriers.
Outside of work, he enjoys competing in motorsport and triathlons. Since 2019 he prepares, runs and drives a Formula Ford in events such as the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone.
Outside of work, he enjoys competing in motorsport and triathlons. Since 2019 he prepares, runs and drives a Formula Ford in events such as the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone.
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PhD in lithium-ion battery engineering
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Consulted on vehicle electrification to a range of industries
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Produced battery modelling codes used around the world
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Published in leading electrochemistry journals on optimal cell design using physics-based battery models and cell-health evaluation using real-time capable methods
DR Yan Zhao
CTO Dr Yan Zhao (PhD, MEng Hons)
Yan moved from China to the UK for secondary education with the ambition of working in Formula 1. Instead, he saw the urgent need to transition from engines to battery powered vehicles so began research focusing on lithium-ion battery design, thermal management and simulation at Imperial College London. In 2019, he graduated with a PhD in battery engineering. Observing pollution and emissions while waiting for London buses with his now 6 year old daughter, Hannah, Yan was motivated to co-found Breathe that same year.
When Yan isn’t researching battery technology, he’s working towards summiting Everest one day. He has already completed the trek to base camp.
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PhD in lithium-ion battery engineering
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Enterprise Fellow, Royal Academy of Engineering
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Published 10+ papers
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Created software for cell design that is now used internationally
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Led the build of Imperial College London's battery laboratory and the battery for its electric racing motorbike
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Orchestrated the build of Breathe’s battery lab, the largest facility of its kind in London, delivering over 4,800 hours of test data daily
Professor Greg Offer
Chief Scientist Professor Gregory Offer (PhD, MSci-Hons, MRSC, CSci)
Greg has always cared about the environment. He is one of those rare people who knew from the age of four what he wanted to do with his life; to become a scientist and help solve climate change. True to his words, since 2006 he has been conducting world-leading electrochemistry research. In 2010, Greg completed a secondment as an Energy Advisor to the UK's Department of Energy and Climate Change. Greg has published over 80 peer-reviewed journal papers and, today, is the Chief Scientist and co-founder of Breathe.
Greg loves cooking and experimenting with vegan and gluten free dishes. He’s also an accomplished singer which he puts to use in his local barbershop quartet. To spot Greg at industry conferences, simply look for the red jacket.
Greg loves cooking and experimenting with vegan and gluten free dishes. He’s also an accomplished singer which he puts to use in his local barbershop quartet. To spot Greg at industry conferences, simply look for the red jacket.
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Professor and research group leader, Electrochemical Science and Engineering group, Imperial College London
- Principal Investigator of the $20 million Faraday Multi-Scale Modelling programme, part of the UK’s Faraday Battery Challenge
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Co-founder of the Faraday Institution
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Co-founder and chair of the technical committee, Future Propulsion Conference
2019
Breathe is spun out of Imperial College London by Dr Ian Campbell, Dr Yan Zhao and Professor Greg Offer
Awarded Climate-KIC support
1st place in the Energy & Environment category of the Venture Catalyst Challenge
Received Entrepreneurial Fellowship from the Faraday Institution
Awarded Climate-KIC support
1st place in the Energy & Environment category of the Venture Catalyst Challenge
Received Entrepreneurial Fellowship from the Faraday Institution
2020
First patent filed
First collaboration with leading OEMs
Secured support from the European Union
Received funding from Innovate UK
Awarded Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellowship
First collaboration with leading OEMs
Secured support from the European Union
Received funding from Innovate UK
Awarded Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellowship
2021
Speedinvest leads seed investment in Breathe
Creative Destruction Lab, Climate Stream, for massively scalable companies
Creative Destruction Lab, Climate Stream, for massively scalable companies
2022
Breathe Life deployed globally on OPPO’s Reno8 Series & Find X5 smartphones
Breathe Charge applied to VARTA's EasyBlade battery
Breathe Charge applied to VARTA's EasyBlade battery
Began construction of state-of the-art 7,500 sq. ft. battery laboratory
Support from the Royal Academy of Engineering Shott Scale Up Accelerator
Support from the Royal Academy of Engineering Shott Scale Up Accelerator
2023
Lowercarbon Capital leads Series A investment in Breathe
2024
Announced partnership with Volvo Cars to provide Breathe Charge for new generation fully electric cars
Volvo Cars Tech Fund invests in Breathe to position itself for an all-electric future
Volvo Cars Tech Fund invests in Breathe to position itself for an all-electric future
2050
Goal of net-zero global CO2 emissions, United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Our scientific advisory board
Chair of board
Professor Gregory Offer, Co-founder - Breathe
Members of the board
Dr Yan Zhao, Co-founder - Breathe
Dr Matthieu Dubarry, Associate Researcher - Hawaii Natural Energy Institute
Professor Gregory Plett, Professor - University of Colorado
Professor Gregory Plett, Professor - University of Colorado
Institutions that support us
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