Netherlands: Charging the future autonomously

Dutch company Rocsys is pioneering autonomous electric vehicle charging by combining robotics, artificial intelligence-based computer vision and smart software. This solution makes charging fully handsfree, safe and more efficient.

Conventionally, driverless automated guided vehicles and electric buses or trucks are manually charged during operations or while cargo is being loaded. However, this is neither practical nor safe in many industrial settings and all manual charging sometimes leads to issues such as excessive heat accumulation from high-power throughput. Rocsys set out to develop an autonomous alternative that can charge electric vehicles day and night and in any weather.

Rocsys is the leading platform for hands-free charging of electric and autonomous vehicles, accelerating the shift to zero-emission autonomous mobility. The company’s cutting-edge technology, including next-generation soft robotics, advanced computer vision and data-driven services, unlocks greater efficiency, safety and scalability for the world’s leading port operators, logistics companies and robotaxi brands.

Joost van der Weijde – Head of Technology and IP

Shortly after its foundation in 2019, Rocsys engaged in a Eureka project titled AUTOCHARGE, collaborating with Swiss and Dutch partners, Grivix and VDL Enabling Transport Solutions. Rocsys developed a robotic arm capable of wielding a charging connector, whilst Grivix created a vehicle-side component: a flap that opens automatically via a communication module. Together, the project partners delivered a fully automated charging solution for heavy-duty electric vehicles using existing chargers and inlets. It can handle frequent, high-power charging cycles without manual intervention.

The end-to-end charging solution includes compliant suspension, which smoothly plugs in connectors and protects the robotic arm and vehicle from damage; computer vision using a 2D camera and artificial intelligence algorithms to locate the inlet; and ultrawideband technology to measure the distance between antennas, ensuring the steward communicates with the vehicle that is about to plug in.

When Rocsys co-founders, Crijn Bouman and Joost van der Weijde first met, they asked themselves whether they could build a purpose-designed automatic charging solution that was more cost-effective than off-the-shelf robotic arms. What began as a tentative “probably” has converted into a fully-fledged “yes” thanks to AUTOCHARGE.

Support from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) through Eureka was instrumental. The developed prototype gave Rocsys credibility with buyers and investors, leading to pilot projects and a successful commercial launch. Rocsys soon began deploying systems in logistics hubs and ports in Europe and North America, including with APM Terminals and eVersum. Today, Rocsys’ technology is integrated into 24/7 operations in a diverse array of heavy-duty vehicles. The Dutch company also plays a key role in standardisation across original equipment manufacturers for interoperability.

Rocsys estimates revenue growth from the AUTOCHARGE project of between seven and ten million euro and the creation of 20 new jobs in the last five years. Rocsys also recently secured 33 million euro in a Series A funding round from SEB Greentech VC and the European Investment Bank.

For any company aspiring towards autonomous functions in the transport industry, there is substantial risk involved. Eureka helped mitigate the financial risk and create international bonds between partners in the ecosystem. Rocsys is now planning another Eureka project, driven by a strong commitment to international collaboration and a desire to keep pushing electric vehicle boundaries through shared expertise.