The initial ideas for ChargeHyve were conceived back in 2019. In the years that followed, the team further developed the concept, in collaboration with Dynteq and the Twente Safety Campus at Technology Base, among others.

Safe charging in the workplace

As more and more people commute to work by e-bike, the need for safe charging points is also growing. Charging outdoors is bad for batteries due to temperature differences, and charging indoors using unsafe power strips increases the risk of fire. Batteries and chargers are also susceptible to theft.

‘Our mission is to lower the barrier to sustainable commuting,’ says Jorg Wellink, CEO of ChargeHyve. ‘Electric bikes are becoming increasingly popular for commuting, but charging facilities in offices are lagging behind. Employers want to become more sustainable, but often don't realise what that transition entails. We help them with that, with a safe and attractive solution.’

Smart, user-friendly charging cabinet

The solution is a smart, user-friendly charging cabinet for e-bike batteries. Each cabinet consists of separate, fire-resistant compartments with gas and temperature sensors. In the event of a deviation, the system automatically switches off the power. The compartments are capable of controlling a battery fire for up to an hour and a half.

Each compartment has a power socket and most charging boxes are equipped with chargers for almost all common e-bike brands. The modular design makes the system scalable and easy to maintain. The cabinets are assembled locally and are designed to be circular.

Support for next steps

‘With this investment, we can take the final steps towards certification. We are also investing in expanding the team, particularly in the areas of technology and sales. In addition to financial resources, both investors are providing strategic support and a network. This is extremely valuable to us,’ says Wellink.

‘Over the past year, Jorg and his team have developed well,’ says Robin Tjassens, investment manager Tech at Oost NL. ‘ChargeHyve responds to a concrete need: safe charging in work environments. Oost NL invests in companies that tackle social challenges with technology, and ChargeHyve is a great example of this.’

Sander Polman, Investment Director at Kairos, adds: ‘Through Kairos, we invest in technical innovations that align with Hanzestrohm's vision of safe and comfortable living and accommodation. ChargeHyve fits in well with this. We contribute our knowledge of fire safety and certification and our network, which includes housing associations, so that ChargeHyve can focus on rapid growth.’

Successful pilots

The cabinet has now been successfully tested in pilots at Demcon, Gasunie in Groningen and the North and East Gelderland Safety Region (VNOG). Later this year, the first charging lockers will be rolled out to customers in the Netherlands, ahead of a broader market launch.

Photo: Florin Pausan