EV Resource Podcast: Dr Ian Campbell, Breathe Battery Technologies
Welcome to a new era of electric mobility, where the secret to a better battery isn't just in its chemistry, but in its code. The true potential of electric vehicle (EV) technology lies in intelligent software that can adapt, optimise, and protect the very heart of the car: its battery.
We're excited to share a recent conversation between our CEO, Dr Ian Campbell, and Zack Hurst from the EV Resource podcast. They delved into the powerful impact of our adaptive charging technology and how it's setting a new standard for performance, longevity, and user experience.
The Backstory: From Toy Cars to a Tech Revolution
Dr Campbell's journey into battery technology is a fascinating one, starting not with a textbook, but with the frustration of a young radio-controlled car racer. He recalls how the unpredictable performance of small, powerful batteries would cause his cars to fail during competitive events. This early fascination with why batteries weren't performing as expected sparked a lifelong quest for a solution.
This curiosity led him to a PhD in battery engineering at Imperial College in London. Here, he realised that a fundamental shift was needed in how batteries are managed. Traditional methods, which rely on rigid, pre-programmed rules, were holding back battery performance and causing what he calls "a huge amount of throttling." This means that to ensure safety and longevity, manufacturers were deliberately limiting the battery's potential, leaving a significant amount of performance on the table.
This frustration, combined with the alarming air pollution issues he witnessed in London, cemented his conviction that he had to be part of the solution. This led him to co-found Breathe Battery Technologies with Professor Greg Offer and Dr Yan Zhao, with a mission to push the boundaries of battery technology.
Adaptive Charging: The Smarter Way to Charge
So, what exactly is "adaptive charging"? Dr Campbell explains that it represents a departure from the "magic number" approach of traditional charging, which employs a single, fixed current to charge the battery. This method fails to account for the battery's ever-changing state, which is influenced by factors such as age, temperature, and usage patterns.
Instead, our adaptive charging software uses physics-based battery management that understands the real-time electrochemical state of the battery, including where lithium ions are located within the cell. This allows it to make dynamic, millisecond-by-millisecond adjustments to the charging process. The result is a charging strategy that isn't just about speed, but about intelligent optimisation.
For a user, this translates into:
Faster Charging: As seen in our partnership with Volvo, our technology can reduce charge times by up to 30% under certain circumstances, a significant improvement for EV owners on the go.
Enhanced Longevity: By constantly monitoring and adapting to the battery's condition, the software minimises stress and degradation, helping the battery last longer.
Improved Safety: The continuous, real-time adjustments ensure that the battery stays within safe operating parameters, addressing a key concern for both manufacturers and consumers.
This intelligent approach is a win-win, enabling automakers to deliver a superior user experience without the painful trade-offs associated with traditional battery management.
The Future is Software-Defined
Dr Campbell's insights suggest that the future of EV battery development is not just about what materials we put in the cells, but about the software that controls them. This shift towards "software-defined batteries" opens up two exciting possibilities:
More Performance: Manufacturers can unlock more performance from existing battery chemistries, adding features like faster charging or greater durability without major hardware changes.
Lower Costs: The software can compensate for different or less expensive material choices, allowing manufacturers to reduce the cost of batteries and, in turn, make EVs more accessible to a wider audience.
He sees this technology becoming a new industry standard in the next 3 to 5 years, with a potential "maker community" of DIY enthusiasts and mechanics gaining access to fine-tuning tools by the late 2020s.
As Dr Campbell and Zack discuss, the name Breathe Battery Technologies is more than just a name; it's a commitment. Inspired by the need to combat air pollution from older vehicles, our company is driven by a vision of a cleaner, healthier world. We're proud to be at the forefront of this movement, helping to build a future where we can all breathe easier.
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