Energy innovation fund ENERGIIQ and existing shareholders are jointly investing €1 million in Involtum. The Rotterdam-based scale-up will use the funds to accelerate the development and roll-out of its activation and payment platform for electrical charging points and other power supply facilities. The platform makes it possible to conveniently pay for the temporary use of electricity in places such as car parks, ports and event locations. The power points replace environment polluting engines and generators, thereby significantly contributing to the reduction of CO2 and particulate matter emissions as well as noise. Berend Potjer, the regional minister for energy for the Province of South Holland announced the investment at the Prinsjesfestival in The Hague.
Photographer René Zoetemelk
Ports and cities are becoming increasingly cleaner
Refrigerated trucks spend a lot of time parked at roadsides or in service stations and keep their cargo cool by using diesel generators. Similarly, while in port, sea-going vessels and river cruise boats also use generators for their power supply.
However, to reduce noise and limit CO2, particulate matter and NOx emissions, governments in Europe are setting stricter rules on the use of diesel generators.
In 2012, Rotterdam-based Involtum began providing electrical power at truck stops. Drivers of refrigerated trucks are able to preserve their cargo at these sites without having to use environment polluting diesel generators. Involtum has continued to develop its power activation and payment transaction platform and it is now available for many other applications.
Easy payment for temporary use of electricity
Today, the platform allows people to pay for the temporary use of electricity at various locations, including car parks, campsites, festival grounds, marinas and seaports. One of the latest applications allows payment by smartphone for the use of Miele washing machines at launderettes. Involtum offers providers of shared facilities a total solution: the platform, back office and call centre services, payments channel, apps, websites, portals and required hardware.
Important contribution to energy transition
Involtum will use the investment by ENERGIIQ and its shareholders to expand the platform and stimulate further growth. Involtum founder and CEO Maarten Hektor: “The investment will enable us to give a boost to sales and marketing. It will help us expand in Europe and further develop our services in Germany, Austria and the UK as well as in the Netherlands.” By unburdening electricity providers, the platform will allow decentralised power supply facilities to be set up at more locations, thereby making an important contribution to the energy transition.
Berend Potjer, the regional minister for energy for the Province of South Holland, says:
“The transition to sustainable energy does not have to be difficult. The Rotterdam-based scale-up Involtum is showing the way by helping skippers of inland vessels and truck drivers switch from environment polluting diesel to clean electricity. Thanks to Involtum’s expertise and endeavour, diesel fumes at events, car parks and quays may soon be a thing of the past. Isn’t that what we all want? I for one certainly do. That’s why I am happy to announce this investment.”
Rinke Zonneveld, the executive director of InnovationQuarter, is very happy with the investment: “Involtum is a Rotterdam-based company that is leading the way in developing new business models for IOT applications. ENERGIIQ regards Involtum’s platform as a simple and scalable solution to reduce the use of diesel aggregates. An easy-to-use app will allow barge skippers and truck drivers to access power supplies in ports and at service stations, thereby significantly reducing CO2 emissions.”
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