How longer-lasting, faster-charging batteries are coming via software updates

Breathe Battery Technologies says its algorithm can boost charging speeds. | Image: Breathe

There's an unbelievable amount of work going on right now to boost the performance of lithium-ion batteries. PhDs around the globe are, at this very moment, furrowing their respective brows, trying to eke out a few percentage points of extra energy density, shave a few minutes off of charging times, or add a few months to a given cell's effective lifespan.

And then along comes a startup called Breathe Battery Technologies with an algorithm that promises to boost charging speeds by upward of 30 percent, all while preserving the lifespan of those cells. It's part of a software package light enough to run on ancient embedded systems and small enough to be deployed via over-the-air updates. Best of all, it's not theoretical: Volvo will feature this tech on the company's upcoming ES90 sedan, and you can already find it on some smartphones.

Here's how it works.

Battery basics

Before we delve into the details, let's quickly run through exactly what's happening inside a battery. The charge provided by a battery happens when ions flow from anode to cathode, then journey across the electrolyte while carrying electrons with them. When it's time to recharge, the process is effectively re …

Read the full story at The Verge.