Image credits: Easelink
Easelink, a provider of automated electric vehicle charging solutions, announced that it has raised €8.3M in a Series A round of funding led by SET ventures. EnBW New Ventures, smartworks and Hermann Hauser also participated in the round.
The company claims the funds will be used to grow the product team and expand collaborations within the automotive and infrastructure industry.
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“Next to our strong automotive partners, we are happy to welcome our new investors who offer profound experience in the EV charging infrastructure and energy sector. This underlines Easelink’s ambition towards setting the global standard for automated charging,” says Hermann Stockinger, Founder & CEO of Easelink.
Easelink: What you need to know
Founded by Hermann Stockinger, Graz-based Easelink provides a fully-automated charging experience and eliminates the need to plug in an electric vehicle by hand.
The company’s patented Matrix Charging system comprises an underbody vehicle unit and a charging pad installed on the parking space.
When the vehicle equipped with Matrix Charging parks over a Matrix Charging Pad, the Matrix Charging Connector from the vehicle’s underbody is automatically lowered onto the pad and the vehicle is charging fully autonomously. Both the connector and the pad communicate via a secure wireless connection.
As per the company’s claims, the technology is compatible with most major electric vehicle platforms and will be rolled out in a retrofit version as well as a factory-mounted option for new cars.
The technology is already being operated with key partners in several pilot projects, such as the eTaxi Austria project in Vienna and Graz.
Investors
Based out of Amsterdam, SET Ventures has invested in European technology companies that impact the future of the energy system.
The company focuses on innovative energy generation, energy distribution and storage, and energy efficiency.
“Automated charging is essential for a future of mobility that is electrified, autonomous and always connected. We support Easelink’s vision to fully integrate electric vehicles into a renewable energy system,” says Anton Arts, Managing Partner at SET Ventures, one of Europe’s leading venture capital investors supporting the global energy system transition.
Smartworks is the venture arm of Wiener Stadtwerke and Wien Energie. Wien Energie is Austria’s largest energy provider and strategic lead of the eTaxi Austria project.
“We believe that the electrification of urban traffic especially of urban fleets requires decentralised and barrier-free charging points in the public space. Wien Energie’s successful collaboration with Easelink in the eTaxi Austria project convinced us to support Easelink with an investment,” says Andreas Straßer, Managing Director at Smartworks.
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