Breathe Battery Technologies develops advanced battery management software that enhances performance and sustainability for electric vehicles and consumer electronics.
Why did you decide to start Breathe?
Breathe (also known as Breathe Battery Technologies) was spun out of Imperial College London in 2019 by myself, Dr Yan Zhao and Professor Greg Offer. Born on the back of a frustration around the lack of energy being put into battery system performance, we co-founded a limited entity through which we could bring together capital investment from around the world across different functions from computer engineering to modelling.
Our focus is on building battery technology to contribute to a faster, better and more sustainable electrification of the world. We do that by providing physics-based battery management software that helps the world’s most iconic electric vehicle and consumer electronics brands do more with the power they have.
Our embedded software products, Breathe Charge and Breathe Life, use adaptive charging to dynamically adjust the charging current across both the state of charge and state health windows, indicating the ideal current at every moment. Our products extract more performance from existing batteries to deliver faster charging, greater cycle life and zero compromise on safety.
What is the vision behind Breathe?
Our name is a wordplay on the fact that we basically breathe technology every day. With so many people now living in megacities, we see the false economy of fast tech as a major issue from both a climate perspective and an environmental perspective.
We dream that one day everyone will breathe clean air, so we are moving fast to make batteries better so we can solve the big issues of air pollution, electronic waste, and the consumable nature of batteries.
From the idea to the start what have been the biggest challenges so far and how did you finance yourself?
As CEO, I wear many hats related to managing our growth, which brings its own rewards and challenges. Ultimately, my role is to ensure that whatever issues arise get solved efficiently while mitigating risks as we scale.
Making the transition from the lab environment to real-world applications and driving revenue through customer deals, has been one of the most important things we’ve done. This comes with many challenges. One of which is scaling the team to allow this to happen.
Scaling the team and ensuring adequate financing are always obstacles. Recruiting the right people is challenging. In the UK we simply aren’t producing battery engineers at the pace required to meet the regulatory drivers for electrification, so it’s an intensely competitive market for hiring.
In 2021, we secured a £1.5 Million seed round led by Speedinvest, Europe’s largest seed stage investor by dollars of assets under management. We subsequently raised a $10 million series A with Lowercarbon Capital, one of the world’s largest climate tech investors by assets under management. In March 2024, we received additional investment from Volvo Cars Tech Fund.
How does Breathe’s solution work?
Our solutions work on two levels – the company level and the product level.
At the company level, we’re addressing a significant gap in battery technology. When batteries leave the production line, they often underperform due to outdated control systems. If these devices were more durable, consumers would pay less for the same end-user experience that they have today.
A battery is a complicated piece of electric chemistry, but the way it’s looked after in the software application is archaic, outdated, overly simplistic, and it means there’s a lot of performance and capability locked up in that battery that consumers never get to access.
At the product level, Breathe Charge and Breathe Life replace these outdated charging strategies with adaptive solutions. Unlike traditional methods, our approach dynamically adjusts to the battery’s needs, ensuring longevity and optimal performance.
We achieve this through a piece of maths that describes what’s happening electrochemically inside the battery then we wrap that up as software. Every battery is unique, so our sophisticated software analyses various factors, including battery age and temperature. We have a software engineering team in house that develops tailored solutions for each battery system, maximising its potential.
Who is the target customer for Breathe?
We work with organisations that are driving innovation and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in battery performance, charging, and longevity.
In March 2024, we partnered with Volvo Cars, making them the first automotive company to gain access to our latest patented, algorithm-enabled charging software for their new generation of fully electric vehicles. This partnership will provide Volvo customers with up to 30% faster charging and an enhanced overall driving and charging experience.
We have also collaborated with Rimac to improve charging speeds, enabling 50% state of charge to be achieved 43% faster. We also work with Delta Cosworth and Varta to enhance battery performance and reduce charging times.
On the consumer electronics side we work with OPPO, a leading smartphone manufacturer. Our software is currently integrated into 27 OPPO smartphone models, doubling the cycle life of their devices.
Essentially, we love working with forward-thinking companies that strive to be at the forefront of innovation and recognise the potential of our technology to revolutionise battery performance, charging capabilities, and longevity across various industries.
How can your customers benefit from Breathe’s products?
We help our electric vehicle brand customers by providing their vehicles with faster charging speeds, extended range, and prolonged battery life through our patented, algorithm-enabled software. By collaborating with us, EV manufacturers differentiate themselves by delivering superior mobility solutions that address consumer concerns like range anxiety and charging times.
Similarly, consumer electronics companies leverage our technology to double the cycle life of their devices, such as smartphones and laptops. This aligns with consumer demands for longer-lasting battery performance, compact form factors, and environmentally friendly products.
Our software-based approach allows customers to optimise their existing battery technology cost-effectively, resulting in improved product performance, boosted revenue, and a competitive edge as sustainable and innovative organisations.
Crucially, our solution offers a relatively fast implementation compared to developing new battery chemistries or materials, making it an attractive choice for companies seeking to stay ahead of rapidly evolving battery technology while meeting customer expectations.
Where do you see yourself and the business in five years?
I’m highly optimistic about our future growth and impact in the next five years. We have a deep understanding of the industry’s needs and the evolving trends, which gives us confidence in our strategic direction.
We are well-positioned to capitalise on several regulatory tailwinds that align with our mission. For instance, the European Union’s right to repair regulations mandate minimum durability requirements for batteries. Our consumer electronics customers recognise that batteries can no longer be treated as disposable components, and the current regulatory environment supports this shift towards sustainability.
Our successful partnerships with industry leaders like Volvo Cars, OPPO, Rimac, and Cosworth further reinforce our optimism. These collaborations demonstrate our ability to enhance battery performance, charging capabilities, and longevity across various sectors, from automotive to consumer electronics. We are excited to build upon these achievements and expand our reach within these industries.
While I cannot disclose specific details, we are actively pursuing new opportunities and partnerships that will amplify our impact and solidify our position as a leading provider of innovative battery management solutions. With our cutting-edge technology and deep industry expertise, we are well-equipped to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of battery technology and meet the growing demand for sustainable and high-performing battery solutions.
At the end: Which 3 tips would you give to future founders or business leaders?
Tip 1: Focus on developing an insanely attractive product & delighting customers above all else. These are the pre-requisites, and everything else (hiring brilliant talent, financing the business, marketing & more) follows from that.
Tip 2: Instil a company culture of celebrating revenue & align incentive structures around it. All other forms of financing are temporary and are a means to revenue.
Tip 3: Ruthlessly assess and clearly communicate what aspects of the business need to be world-class vs. what aspects need to be unique. The world-class aspects prevent customers saying “no”, while the unique aspects are the reasons they will say “yes”.
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Thank you Dr. Ian Campbell for the Interview
Statements of the author and the interviewee do not necessarily represent the editors and the publisher opinion again.
