RIJSWIJK, Netherlands and PORTLAND, Ore., July 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocsys, the leading provider of autonomous charging solutions for electric transportation, today announced a €33 million Series A funding round. Led by SEB Greentech Venture Capital, the round also includes participation from Graduate Entrepreneur, the European Investment Bank, and returning investor Forward.One. With this latest investment, which includes a roughly equal split of debt and equity financing, Rocsys will expand the capabilities of its platform as it rapidly scales its presence in the United States and Europe.
Rocsys combines soft robotics, AI-based computer vision, and data-driven services to easily adapt existing chargers into an autonomous system that can plug in and out without manual intervention. This removes the risk of operator errors, ensures regulatory compliance and vehicle uptime, and minimizes damage and human exposure to high-voltage equipment. Even if drivers forget to plug in on time or employees are barred from handling electrical cables, Rocsys ensures that all vehicles are charged and ready to operate. Rocsys’s solution works for consumer and fleet vehicles, including port equipment, industrial applications, heavy-duty, and more.
“At SEB, we invest in companies with proven sustainability impact, real-world and scalable use cases, and strong growth,” said Mikko Huumo, Investment Manager at SEB. “Rocsys makes electrification practical for vehicles ranging from personal autonomous cars to continuously operating heavy-duty equipment, a major source of emissions. We are thrilled to lead the company’s funding round and accelerate the sustainable transportation revolution.”
Rocsys’s innovative approach to autonomous charging puts them at the forefront of a new frontier in transportation. EV adoption among consumers and enterprises is reaching new heights following almost $500 billion in funding made available through the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, in addition to similar programs worldwide. This market growth is also prompting more than $1 trillion in EV-related investments from automakers over the next decade. And with funding streams like the U.S.’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program requiring charging operators to maintain certain uptime standards, autonomous charging plays an important role in guaranteeing electric vehicle supply equipment reliability by alleviating wear and tear. It’s also a more sustainable approach: Rocsys estimates its technology will drive up to a 20 percent increase in throughput for fast-charging stations and is projected to reduce CO2 emissions by 400 million tons by 2035.
“There’s too much friction in the EV charging process today, creating needless barriers to sustainable transportation,” said Rocsys Co-founder and CEO Crijn Bouman. “That’s why we created a technology-agnostic solution that converts any charger into a fully automated experience, maximizing the return on investment and sustainability impact of already-installed charging infrastructure. With this Series A funding, we’re bringing this breakthrough solution to more customers and industries worldwide.”
Rocsys has garnered attention from major logistics providers, manufacturers, and international corporations, leading to customer and industry partnerships with companies like Hyster, Taylor Machine Works, and SSA Marine. Rocsys is also the leading robotics company in ROCIN-ECO, a charging consortium that includes AUDI, Porsche, BMW, Ford, and Mercedes-Benz with a goal to develop an interoperable and standardized robotic fast-charging infrastructure along high-volume European transportation routes.
Participation in ROCIN-ECO reflects Rocsys’ strong position in the European market, as does the support of the European Investment Bank. As the official lending arm of the European Union and a leading supporter of climate-focused startups, the EIB’s involvement through the InvestEU programme is a further testament to Rocsys’s sustainability leadership and alignment with the region’s policy priorities.
“Rocsys is transforming the EV charging experience by creating an easy-to-use and scalable solution,” said Frederik Gerner, Venture Partner at Forward.One. “Their ability to bring an innovative solution to the market and partner with OEMs to set an industry standard is impressive. Rocsys is the future of electric charging and we’re proud to support them in achieving their mission.”
The capital infusion will support research and development into additional features, which include intelligent parking guidance, expanded software integrations for vehicle navigation and fleet management systems, and additional remote diagnostics and teleoperations support. Rocsys also plans to build out its North American division, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, to further support application engineering and customer service in the region while expanding local supply chain and manufacturing activities.
As part of the round, Rocsys welcomes four new members to its Board of Advisors, including Mikko Huumo of SEB, Frederik Gerner, and Jan Willem Friso of Forward.One, and new chairperson Dr. Gregor Matthies. Each of these leaders brings decades of expertise in the technology and mobility spaces.
To learn more about Rocsys’ approach and the benefits of autonomous charging, visit www.rocsys.com.
About Rocsys
Rocsys is the leader in autonomous charging solutions for electric vehicles and equipment. With an innovative approach combining soft robotics, AI-based computer vision, and data-driven services, Rocsys creates a reliable, seamless, efficient, and cost-effective charging experience for fleets and consumers. Rocsys ensures reliability in charging by removing the risk of operator errors and maximizing efficiency, enhancing safety by limiting exposure to high-voltage equipment. Rocsys can easily transform any existing charger into an autonomous system backed by a cloud-connected platform for support and frictionless integration with other fleet management tools. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in The Netherlands, with U.S. operations based out of Portland, Oregon, Rocsys is setting the standard for the future of autonomous charging with leading roles in industry consortiums and strategic partnerships with multinational corporations and OEMs.
