How longer-lasting, faster-charging batteries are coming via software updates
(The Verge) Advances in battery software are opening new possibilities for improving electric vehicle performance, particularly when it comes to charging speed. A report by The Verge highlights how UK-based start-up Breathe Battery Technologies has developed software capable of reducing EV charging times by up to 30%, without requiring any changes to battery hardware or chemistry.
The company’s technology, known as Breathe Charge, focuses on improving how lithium-ion batteries are managed during the charging process. In most electric vehicles today, charging behaviour is controlled using predefined lookup tables. These tables specify how much current should be applied at different temperatures and states of charge, ensuring that batteries remain within safe operating limits. However, this method is often imprecise and conservative, meaning batteries may charge more slowly than necessary.
Breathe’s software replaces these static tables with a dynamic algorithm that calculates the optimal charging current in real time. Instead of relying on limited predefined values, the system continuously evaluates conditions such as temperature, voltage and state of charge to determine how quickly the battery can safely accept energy. This allows vehicles to charge faster when conditions permit while still protecting the battery from damage.
According to the article, the technology could reduce the time needed to charge a battery from 10% to 80% state of charge by around 30% when using a high-speed charger. Under more challenging conditions, such as cold weather, the improvement may be even greater. Tests suggest charging times could improve by as much as 48% at temperatures around 0°C, where conventional charging strategies typically slow down significantly.
Another important advantage of the system is its efficiency. Modern electric vehicles often require energy-intensive thermal management to maintain battery temperatures within a narrow range for fast charging. Because Breathe’s algorithm can operate across a wider range of conditions, vehicles may require less energy to heat or cool the battery before charging. This can improve overall system efficiency and reduce wasted energy.
The software is designed to be extremely lightweight so that it can run on the embedded processors commonly found in existing vehicles. The algorithm requires minimal computing resources and less than 10 kilobytes of memory, making it suitable for deployment on many current battery management systems. In some cases, it could even be delivered through over-the-air software updates, enabling manufacturers to improve charging performance without hardware modifications.
The technology will first appear in Volvo’s upcoming ES90 electric sedan, marking one of the first commercial deployments of the software in a production EV. Volvo has already invested in Breathe Battery Technologies through its venture capital arm, reflecting the automaker’s interest in software-driven improvements to battery performance.
Beyond automotive applications, Breathe’s technology is also being explored for consumer electronics such as smartphones. By dynamically optimising charging behaviour, the same software principles can help improve charging speed, efficiency and battery lifespan across a wide range of battery-powered devices.
Overall, the development highlights a growing shift toward software-defined battery performance. While advances in battery chemistry continue to be important, intelligent software control is emerging as a powerful way to unlock faster charging and better efficiency from existing battery technologies.