London-based Breathe Battery Technologies, a spinout from Imperial College London, announced on May 7, 2025, a $21 million Series B funding round to fuel its mission of transforming battery performance. The company, known for its physics-based battery management software, also unveiled a new suite of tools to streamline battery development for electric vehicles (EVs) and consumer electronics.

A Comprehensive Battery Software Suite

Founded in 2019 by Dr. Ian Campbell, Dr. Yan Zhao, and Professor Greg Offer, Breathe provides solutions that optimize battery design, validation, and performance. Alongside the funding, the company launched three innovative products:

Breathe Model: A simulation software using physics-based electrochemical and thermal dynamics to predict battery behavior, reducing reliance on costly lab testing.
Breathe Map: A service that maps battery performance, balancing charging speed with internal cell states to unlock maximum potential.
Breathe Design (upcoming): A tool to help engineers craft cost-effective, high-performance battery systems with system-level insights.

These complement Breathe’s existing Breathe Charge and Breathe Life software, which enhance charging speed and battery longevity. For example, Breathe Charge, set to feature in Volvo’s ES90 sedan, cuts charging times by up to 30% by dynamically adjusting current based on real-time electrochemical data.

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Funding to Fuel Growth

The $21 million round, led by Kinnevik AB with participation from Lowercarbon Capital and Volvo Cars Tech Fund, will expand Breathe’s London lab—already the city’s largest battery testing facility—and enhance its software capabilities. The company aims to double its 60-person workforce and accelerate partnerships with global brands like Volvo and OPPO.

“Breathe’s technology is fundamental to solving critical battery performance issues,” said Sam Marsden of Kinnevik, citing its impact on EV adoption and user experience.

Ann-Sofie Ekberg of Volvo Cars Tech Fund added, “Breathe’s software optimizes charging consistency while protecting battery health, giving us critical insights to build efficient systems.”

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Why It Matters?

Batteries are the bottleneck in the shift to electrification, with charging times and longevity key barriers to EV adoption. Breathe’s software tackles these by modeling internal battery dynamics, enabling faster charging (e.g., 27% faster for OPPO’s Reno8 Series) and extending lifespan without hardware upgrades. This cuts costs and reduces environmental impact, aligning with the 83% of consumers demanding sustainable solutions, per a 2024 PwC survey.

The global battery management system market is projected to hit $22 billion by 2030, per BloombergNEF, driven by EV growth. Breathe’s partnerships, including with Volvo and VARTA, position it to lead this space.

Looking Ahead

Breathe’s expanded toolchain addresses industry pain points—overdesigned hardware, lengthy testing, and performance gaps. By moving simulation earlier in development, it helps manufacturers like Volvo save time and resources. With its lab generating 4,800 hours of daily test data and a growing IP portfolio, Breathe is poised to shape the future of electrification, from EVs to aerospace.

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