How Germany's Swobbee is Creating Unique Battery Swapping Stations for Micromobility - CEO, Thomas Duscha

Germany's Swobbee started life as GreenPack. In 2017 the startup was founded with the aim of creating a removable battery. It successfully developed a standardised battery with the same name, which is still widely used in small electric vehicles today. As the development of battery exchange stations progressed, and other battery types were made compatible, GreenPack's services were reorganised, and Swobbee was established in 2020.

"Swobbee now provides a universal charging and swapping solution for micromobility, making small electric vehicles more sustainable. Today, Swobbee is a leading provider of rental batteries and battery swapping stations for urban mobility," Thomas Duscha, Swobbee's CEO, tells Auto Futures.

The Berlin-based company's battery swapping station is designed to work with various battery types from different manufacturers. Its customers can either access a public battery station or they can rent a station exclusively to charge their batteries. Its partners include Voi, Dott and Bolt.

"Swobbee can charge and swap eight different battery types that power numerous light electric vehicles, and more types will be added in the future. The modular design of the station allows for quick adaptation to meet the needs of customers and accommodate new battery types." 

It also provides 24/7 monitoring of batteries and offers various data and analysis functions. Additionally, customers can search for stations and reserve batteries.

"With Swobbee, fleet operators do not need to invest in expensive charging infrastructure. We can also provide exclusive stations and handle maintenance if required."

Taiwan's Gogoro is undoubtedly an inspiration for Swobbee. However, there are fundamental difference between the two companies, explains Duscha.

"Gogoro provides vehicles and battery swapping as a package, while Swobbee focuses on being a universal, manufacturer-independent charging station for the entire micromobility sector, including e-scooters, e-mopeds, e-cargobikes, and more. By doing so, Swobbee aims to reduce the barrier to adopting innovations in the electric mobility sector by building charging infrastructure that works with all types of batteries."

"Our goal is to improve the profitability of shared micromobility operators by increasing the usability of light electric vehicles and reducing downtime caused by the need to charge batteries," he adds.

Second-Life Battery Solutions

Swobbee's charging infrastructure ensures that micromobility solutions for delivery, logistics and sharing can be implemented in a cost-efficient manner. It is also designed to help clean up the 'last-mile' delivery sector.

"The growing significance of e-commerce has led to a significant increase in parcel volumes over the last few years, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down. Moreover, there are more and more delivery services for food, groceries, and other items, leading to a surge in delivery vehicles, which are often diesel-powered and cause congestion, noise pollution, air pollution, and an increased risk of accidents in urban areas. Many cities are already struggling to handle the existing traffic load. Therefore, it is crucial to rethink and explore alternatives. Micromobility offers an effective solution to this problem," says Duscha.

"In many cases, electric cargobikes can replace traditional delivery vehicles. They are not only more environmentally friendly, but also faster and more cost-effective for companies in urban areas. With Swobbee, the professional use of e-cargobikes is optimized, and these vehicles have virtually unlimited range due to the quick battery change. As a result, companies do not need to build and operate expensive charging infrastructure."

As part of its commitment to the 'circular economy', the company is offering battery recycling services.

"Defective batteries are promptly identified and removed from the Swobbee system through continuous 24/7 monitoring. We strive to repair them whenever possible. However, in cases where repair is not feasible, we recycle the used batteries to preserve their valuable raw materials. Currently, the amount of batteries we handle is still manageable, but we are already collaborating with partners to develop advanced recycling and second-life solutions for the future."

A Shift in Mobility Behavior

The company recently announced it had raised an additional €2 million in an extended Series A funding round. That brings its total funding up to €7.9 million.

"The capital we've raised will be invested in enhancing our platform and extending the station network. Our aim is to expand our solution not only in Germany, but also in other European and non-European markets," says Duscha.

As well as Germany, it currently operates stations the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Portugal. 

"We aim to enter new markets in Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia in the next months and years. This region is home to some of the world's largest two-wheeler markets, and we see a great potential for Swobbee there. Recently, we initiated a small pilot project in Indonesia and plan to do the same in India soon. Through our vehicle- and battery-as-a-service model, and in collaboration with local partners, we aim to enable a cost-effective transition to e-mopeds for a broader population. The raised capital will support our efforts in developing the platform and expanding our network of stations worldwide."

Finally, we asked Duscha what urban mobility in Europe will look like by 2030.

"We anticipate a shift in mobility behavior and a restriction of car access in cities. As a result, people will increasingly utilize small electric vehicles, which are integrated into public transport systems, for urban travel. Electric cargobikes are expected to be one of the primary transportation modes in cities. Swobbee intends to be the main charging station for this emerging urban mobility trend," he predicts.