Volvo Cars says its new partner will reduce its EVs’ charging time by 30%
(Elektrek) Volvo Cars has announced a partnership with Breathe Battery Technologies aimed at significantly improving electric vehicle charging performance. By integrating Breathe’s advanced battery software into its next generation of electric vehicles, Volvo expects to reduce charging times by up to 30%, addressing one of the most common barriers to EV adoption: slow charging speeds.
The collaboration also includes an investment from the Volvo Cars Tech Fund, the company’s corporate venture capital arm. Through this partnership, Volvo becomes one of the first automotive manufacturers to adopt Breathe’s latest battery optimisation software for use in production vehicles.
At the centre of the partnership is Breathe Charge, Breathe’s adaptive charging software. Traditional battery management systems typically rely on fixed charging profiles designed to protect battery health. While effective, these systems are often conservative and limit how quickly batteries can accept energy. Breathe’s technology instead uses algorithms to dynamically control the charging process in real time, adjusting the charging current according to the battery’s condition and operating environment.
By continuously optimising battery behaviour during charging, the software can safely push the battery closer to its optimal performance limits. This allows electric vehicles to accept higher charging power for longer periods without compromising safety or battery lifespan. As a result, Volvo expects the time required to charge its vehicles from 10% to 80% state of charge to decrease by as much as 30%.
One of the key advantages of this approach is that the improvement comes through software rather than hardware changes. The technology can enhance charging performance without requiring new battery chemistries, redesigned battery packs or additional raw materials. This makes it a cost-effective way for automakers to improve EV performance while maintaining existing vehicle architectures and manufacturing processes.
The charging improvements are also designed to last throughout the entire lifecycle of the battery, ensuring that faster charging does not negatively impact battery durability or reliability. Maintaining battery health is critical for electric vehicles, as degradation can reduce driving range and increase long-term ownership costs.
According to Volvo, faster charging represents a major step toward making electric vehicles more convenient for drivers. Reducing time spent at charging stations improves the practicality of EV ownership and helps narrow the gap between electric vehicles and conventional petrol cars in terms of refuelling convenience.
The technology is expected to be implemented in Volvo’s next generation of fully electric vehicles, potentially becoming available within the next few years. If successful, it could give Volvo a competitive advantage by offering significantly faster charging performance compared with many current EVs.
More broadly, the partnership highlights the growing role of software-defined batteries in the future of electric mobility. As automakers look for new ways to improve performance and efficiency, intelligent battery management systems are becoming just as important as advances in battery materials or hardware design. By combining advanced algorithms with deep battery modelling, companies like Breathe are demonstrating how software innovation can unlock major improvements in charging speed and overall battery performance.