This software can make your electric car battery charge 30% faster
(Forbes) A new generation of battery software is emerging that could significantly reduce charging times for electric vehicles. According to a report by Forbes, UK-based startup Breathe Battery Technologies has developed software designed to improve battery performance and enable EVs to charge up to 30% faster, without requiring new battery hardware or chemistry.
The company focuses on improving how lithium-ion batteries are managed through software rather than redesigning the batteries themselves. Traditionally, battery manufacturers supply cell specifications in the form of static data sheets that include fixed charging limits. Automakers then use these conservative guidelines when developing their battery management systems to ensure safety and avoid damage. While this approach protects the battery, it often prevents the battery from operating at its full potential.
Breathe’s technology takes a different approach by replacing these static rules with dynamic adaptive charging software. Instead of relying on predetermined charging curves, the system continuously adjusts the charging process in real time based on the battery’s condition, temperature, and state of charge. This allows the vehicle to accept higher charging power when conditions are favourable, while still protecting the battery from overheating or degradation.
The company’s main product for automotive applications, Breathe Charge, is designed to optimise charging speed across a wide range of real-world conditions. The software dynamically adapts the charging profile as the battery fills from zero to full charge and as the battery ages over time. This ensures that performance remains consistent throughout the battery’s lifetime rather than deteriorating as the battery gets older.
The technology is already attracting attention from major automakers. Volvo Cars has invested in Breathe through its venture capital arm, the Volvo Cars Tech Fund, and plans to integrate the software into its next generation of electric vehicles. The goal is to significantly reduce the time it takes to charge an EV battery from around 10% to 80%, the range typically used during rapid charging stops.
A key advantage of this approach is that the improvements come entirely from software optimisation. Because the technology works with existing battery hardware, manufacturers can improve charging performance without redesigning battery packs or adopting new chemistries. This makes it a relatively fast and cost-effective way to enhance EV performance compared with developing entirely new battery technologies.
Breathe’s work reflects a broader shift in the battery industry toward software-defined batteries, where advanced algorithms play an increasingly important role in improving performance. By better understanding the electrochemical behaviour inside lithium-ion cells, software can unlock capabilities that are often left unused due to conservative operating limits.
Beyond electric vehicles, the company is also applying similar technology to consumer electronics. Its battery-management software is already used in multiple smartphone models, helping devices maintain battery health and performance for longer periods.
As electric vehicles become more widespread, reducing charging times will be critical for improving convenience and accelerating adoption. Software-based battery optimisation offers a promising way to deliver faster charging, better efficiency and longer battery lifetimes—without waiting for the next breakthrough in battery chemistry.