A startup that deploys robots to charge electric fleet vehicles, including light-duty trucks and delivery vans, is moving to Chattanooga as it aims to capitalize on the city’s status as an important player in the logistics industry.
Founded by CEO Virind Gujral, EV Bots is the fourth company that has — or will — set down roots in the region after enrolling in The Company Lab’s sustainable mobility accelerator program, according to the organization. Participants in the 12-week accelerator receive $20,000 with the potential for additional funding. The program also connects founders with mentors and possible investors.
Ruedata, which uses artificial intelligence to maximize the lifespan of tires, and Motoring Labs, which has technology that scans commercial vehicles as they enter and leave a facility for damage and other factors, have also established presences in the Scenic City, according to The Company Lab CEO Tasia Malakasis. Terminus, which uses LIDAR, AI and smart cameras to boost traffic efficiency and streamline multimodal transportation, is in the process of doing so.
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“The net-net is that we’re bringing really cool companies here that are working with our private sector, our public sector and our research sector to advance their innovation goals and to support start-ups,” Malakasis said in a phone call.
Malakasis said Chattanooga is working to live up to the moniker AOL co-founder Steve Case gave the city in 2022: “The Silicon Valley of trucking.” Case is also the CEO of Revolution, a venture firm that has worked to invest in startups outside major hubs like California, New York and Massachusetts.
“This is the place — not Silicon Valley — but Chattanooga, Tennessee, is the place you want to be,” Malakasis said. “This is the city you want to be in to build that business.”
EV Bots is building a commercial model of its product, Gujral said, which is almost ready. They’re now in the testing phase. A concept video shows a driver pulling into a facility and requesting a vehicle charge on his phone. A small robot on wheels grabs a docked battery from a bay, brings it to the waiting van and plugs it into the charging port before returning to grab another.
“When electric vehicles started coming into the fleets, the charging infrastructure was a problem,” Gujral said in a video interview. “That is where I said, ‘Oh, let me address that problem.'”
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Gujral, who previously worked for Penske Truck Leasing for 17 years, said his robots will also check and maintain tire pressure and manage tread depth. Additionally, the machines will inspect trucks before and after they leave for a trip to assess for damages. CARTA is among a number of organizations that will receive a demonstration of EV Bots’ technology, he said.
Fleets are already relying more and more on electric vehicles, Gujral said, but the charging infrastructure isn’t adequate. It may be too far away, or it may take about an hour to recharge a battery. When companies install a charging station at their facilities, it can be a huge capital expenditure, and federal grants that were previously available for these projects are practically gone, he said. These are issues Gujral aims to solve with EV Bots.
Gujral expects societal pressures to adopt more renewable energy and regulations like those in California, where the state is attempting to mandate zero-emission cars, mean electric vehicles will ultimately gain traction.
(READ MORE: Chattanooga aims to open new business resource center this year)
“Train has left the station,” Gujral said. “We are going to be electric one way or the other because of the benefits of it, because the electricity cost is much lower than the fuel cost.”
The adoption may be slow at first, Gujral said.
“I feel that once the flood gates will open, they will open up pretty big,” he said.
Gujral said three of his associates from Philadelphia will move to Chattanooga, and he hopes to collaborate with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s mechatronics and computer science programs, which could act as a pipeline for talent.
Asked why Chattanooga was appealing, Gujral said people have been welcoming, and the city’s status as a hub for the logistics industry means it’s close to potential customers. The Company Lab has also been a strong partner for his company, he said, and he’s now about halfway through their accelerator program.
“I want my team members to be happy,” Gujral said. “It’s a great city, so from a customer perspective, cost of operations perspective, university and talent pool perspective and livability perspective, and people being nice — all of these things were factors in getting us.”
Contact David Floyd at [email protected] or 423-757-6249.
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