Easelink, the Austrian high-tech pioneer in the field of automated EV charging has announced an €8.3m Series A funding round led by SET Ventures with participation of EnBW New Ventures, Smartworks, and existing investor Hermann Hauser.
Easelink provides a fully automated charging experience and eliminates the need to plug in an electric vehicle by hand. Its Matrix Charging system comprises an underbody vehicle unit and a charge pad installed on the parking space. The technology is compatible with most major electric vehicle platforms and will be rolled out in a retrofit version as well as a factory-installed option for new cars. As the most cost-effective and energy-efficient solution available, this opens up automated charging not only for premium vehicles but also in the volume segment.
The funds will be used to keep growing the product team, expand collaborations within the automotive and infrastructure industries and continue the path towards a global automated charging standard. Matrix Charging is already being used by key partners in several pilot projects, such as the eTaxi Austria project targeting automated charging of taxi fleets in Vienna and Graz.
“Alongside our strong automotive partners, we are happy to welcome our new investors who offer profound experience in EV charging infrastructure and the energy sector. This highlights Easelink’s ambition to set the global standard for automated charging,” emphasizes Hermann Stockinger, founder and CEO of Easelink.
“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.
“Low touch operation is key in providing customer-oriented infrastructure. Matrix Charging is the fully automated charging system that will accelerate the shift to e-mobility. Easelink’s technology is best positioned to play a key role in the future. We are excited to take part in this innovation,” states Dr. Marc Umber, Investment Director at EnBW New Ventures.
Smartworks is the venture arm of Wiener Stadtwerke and Wien Energie. Wien Energie is Austria’s largest energy provider and plays the lead strategic role in the eTaxi Austria project. “We believe that the electrification of urban traffic – especially of urban fleets – requires decentralized 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,” explains Andreas Straßer, Managing Director at Smartworks.
Easelink’s seed investor, Dr. Hermann Hauser, who is co-founder of ARM Limited, also participated in the round with his Austrian-based investment company HHI. “As an innovation- and technology-driven person, I am delighted to see how the Easelink team is executing their ambitious plan,” says Dr. Hermann Hauser.
About Easelink
Headquartered in Graz, Austria, Easelink is the leading provider of automated electric vehicle charging solutions. Its patented Matrix Charging technology is the most cost-effective and energy-efficient solution available to global automotive brands and their Tier 1 suppliers. From offices in Austria and China, Easelink works with a number of leading automotive and infrastructure partners to deploy the technology in a range of use cases.
Contact
Patricia Krenn MSc
Marketing & Communications
Mobile: +43 (0) 676 848 741 220
Email: patricia.krenn@easelink.com
Webpage: www.easelink.com
About SET Ventures
Since 2007, Amsterdam-based SET Ventures has invested in European technology companies that impact the future of the energy system. SET Ventures focuses broadly on innovations in energy generation, energy distribution, energy storage and energy efficiency. SET Fund III provides early growth-stage capital to ventures that shape the energy system transition through smart software and services-based business models.
Contact
Armin Greinöcker
Mobile: +31(0)615471570
Email: armingreinocker@setventures.com
Webpage: www.setventures.com
About EnBW New Ventures
ENV supports entrepreneurs in developing smart infrastructure solutions for a sustainable future – people, planet, profit – by leveraging our financially driven VC setup with the reach and skills of the corporate investor EnBW. With an investment volume of 100 million euros, EnBW New Ventures offers startups access to professional investor expertise and a customer and supplier network in the areas of energy and infrastructure. The startups that we invest in engage and scale with EnBW in its transformation towards becoming a sustainable and digital infrastructure operator.
Contact
Karen Wirth
Mobile: +49 157 888 64 737
Email: karen@env.vc
Webpage: www.env.vc
About Smartworks
Smartworks Innovation is the corporate venture fund of Wien Energie and Wiener Stadtwerke. Its main objective is to invest in companies with innovative solutions that address climate change and make life in Vienna even better. Our startups help Wien Energie and Wiener Stadtwerke continuously improve their operations and service offerings and tackle tomorrow’s challenges. Areas of particular interest to Smartworks include energy, smart cities, and digitalization of services and operations.
Contact
Andreas Straßer
Mobile: +43 664 884 80 407
Email: andreas.strasser@smartworks.at
Webpage: www.smartworks.at
About Hermann Hauser Investment GmbH (HHI)
HHI is the Austrian-based investment company of the computer entrepreneur and venture capitalist Dr. Hermann Hauser. Since 2016, HHI has invested in more than 30 companies located in Austria, Germany, the UK and the Netherlands. The sweet spots are seed investments in deep tech start-ups that have the potential to set new standards in global markets.
Contact
Jasmin Güngör
Mobil: +43(0)-660-133-83-48
E-Mail: jg@iect.at
Webpage: https://www.iect.at/
