Leaders in Cleantech: Dr Ian Campbell, Breathe Battery Technologies
From Childhood Hobby to Global Impact: The Story of Breathe Batteries
Batteries are at the heart of the clean energy transition, powering everything from our smartphones to electric cars. But for all their importance, they have long been a source of frustration. Why do they degrade so quickly? Why can't they charge faster without harming their lifespan?
These are the very questions that our co-founder, Dr. Ian Campbell, set out to answer in his recent discussion with the Leaders In Cleantech podcast. Watch the episode below to hear Ian share the story of how a childhood hobby evolved into a company at the forefront of battery innovation.
The Spark of an Idea
Dr. Campbell's fascination with batteries began as a teenager racing radio-controlled cars. He was captivated by the behaviour of the batteries that powered their electronic systems—not just how well they performed, but also why they failed. Years later, as he witnessed the growing need for electrification in the automotive sector, he saw a direct connection between his early hobby and a global challenge.
This passion led him to Imperial College London, where he pursued a PhD to research the fundamental limitations of Battery Systems. He and his co-founders, Dr. Yan Zhao and Professor Greg Offer, sought to understand what was holding batteries back and how to unlock their full potential. They developed new mathematical models and experimental methods to diagnose battery health and create better control strategies.
Making the Leap from Lab to Market
The transition from academic research to a commercial business wasn't a single "Eureka!" moment but a deliberate, collaborative process. The team's deep technical understanding, combined with strategic support from Imperial College's entrepreneurial ecosystem, helped them secure initial funding. This allowed them to leave the university environment and test their assumptions with real-world customers.
Their breakthrough came when they proved their technology could generate revenue, validating the product-market fit. This early commercial success provided the confidence to scale and attract further investment, paving the way for the company's incorporation in 2019.
The Mission: Doing More with the Power You Have
The name Breathe is a powerful double entendre. It reflects the team's core focus on "living and breathing battery technologies" while also highlighting their mission to combat climate change and air pollution. The company aims to make batteries less consumable by enhancing their longevity and performance.
Breathe's technology is a game-changer because it allows brands to extend battery life and improve the user experience without making the painful trade-offs that have long plagued the industry. Traditionally, engineers have had to choose between fast charging, long lifespan, and energy density. Breathe's solutions, Breathe Life and Breathe Charge, solve this by providing a software-based approach that optimises both.
A Software-Defined Future for Batteries
Breathe's business model is centred on licensing its software to major brands like Oppo and Volvo. Unlike a full battery management system (BMS), Breathe's embedded software functions as an application layer that can be integrated into a brand's existing BMS.
This approach acknowledges the industry's shift towards software-defined systems. The physical hardware of a BMS is becoming commoditised; the real value lies in the software that can dynamically manage the battery. By replacing outdated, conservative charging strategies, Breathe's software unlocks the full, latent capability of a battery—a capability that is often throttled by old control methods.
As the world continues its rapid electrification, the demand for battery talent and innovative solutions is at an all-time high. Dr. Campbell believes the industry's future lies in a more holistic, balanced approach that moves beyond focusing on a single metric like range and instead optimises for a combination of performance, consistency, and cost. Breathe Batteries is at the forefront of this shift, ensuring that the devices and vehicles we rely on are not only more powerful but also more sustainable.
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