Volteras aspires to be the link between #electricvehicles and anything they may come into contact with, from chargers and house batteries to #energysuppliers and mapping software.
After flying under the radar for three years, the London-based firm tells TechCrunch that it has funded approximately $2.9 million and has partnered with several major players. Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo, and the #solarenergy provider Enphase are among them.
"It's really difficult to get data from electric vehicles and the surrounding ecosystem," Volteras founder and CEO Peter Wilson told #TechCrunch in a phone interview. "Some have access to EV data, but not to chargers or energy storage," the CEO continued. Others may have access to charging data, but not to EV data."
Volteras intends to tie it all together in a manner akin to Plaid's work with banks. Volteras charges OEMs and energy #retailers for API access, but the company guarantees not to capture or sell data to third parties.
"That was the #business model before us," Wilson explained. "There are a billion other businesses that were all founded around 2016." [They were] markets that purchased and traded data from #automobiles." The CEO went on to say, "Recently, they're just getting absolutely pummelling, because everyone is switching to the more privacy-focused platform approach."
Regulators, such as California's Privacy Protection Agency, have recently expressed an interest in how #manufacturers handle data. That's not without reason. #Cameras and sensors in modern cars capture drivers' behaviours and position, among other #sensitivedata.
Volteras intends to offer more than just information. Wilson claims that if #customers opt in, the startup's API allows energy #merchants to do things like load balancing, such as selecting when to charge #EVs.
This is the type of #technology Tesla is developing for its own ecosystem, connecting automobiles, powerwalls, and solar arrays through a single app. However, Tesla has its limitations. For example, the automaker's electricity package is now only offered in Texas.
Volteras, not to be confused with charging business Voltera, raised $2.9 million in seed funding over a year ago. Exor, Long Journey Ventures, and Crunchie awardee Scott Bannister are among the startup's #investors. Wilson estimated Volteras' seed round at roughly $12 million.
#seedfunding #stakeholder #Tesla #Texas #API #Moderncars #sensors #sensitivedata #cars #startup #energystorage #BMW #chargers #EVdata
#energymanagement #innovation #greentech #vehiclecontrol #Partnerships #AutomotiveIndustry Tesla Volteras
Focused Magnetics | EV and Electrification Strategist | Clean Technologies Startup Development and Marketing | CNB Strategic Consulting
2moSo lower cost, as well as eliminating Range Anxiety (real or imagined) are the hurdles to mass acceptance and adoption!