EV charging firm Easelink launches funding round for ‘Matrix Charging’
Austrian automated EV charging firm Easelink has announced an €8.3m funding round to expand its Matrix charging system.
Easelink’s Matrix Charging consists of an underbody vehicle unit and a charge pad installed on the parking space, eliminating the need to plug in an electric vehicle by hand. 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.
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.”
Hermann Stockinger, founder and CEO of Easelink, said: “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.”
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.
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. Andreas Straßer, managing director at Smartworks, added: “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.”
Anton Arts, managing partner at SET Ventures, one of Europe’s leading venture capital investors supporting the global energy system transition, also commented: “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.”
