Volvo Cars has made a strategic investment in Shanghai Dianxiang Info Tech Company“PowerShare”, an AI and cloud-based energy management start-up through the Volvo Cars Tech Fund, its venture capital arm. This is the fund’s first investment in an APAC-based company since it was established in 2018 to invest in high-potential technology start-ups around the globe.
With leading battery and energy AI technology at its core, PowerShare is a digital energy and intelligent power management company with operations in several Asian countries. PowerShare provides cloud-based energy management solutions, with over 100 proprietary AI algorithms in the field of battery performance, virtual power plant and smart charging technology.
One of PowerShare’s core offerings is the Virtual Power Plant (VPP) cloud solution, which can help foster more sustainable energy solutions. This service-provider software platform connects and aggregates energy terminals such as industrial and residential energy storage, and charging stations, including clean energy terminals, such as solar panels and photovoltaic panels. Based on AI, IoT (Internet of Things), and big data, VPP can carry out electricity trading to match energy production with energy demand from the grid. The system can overcome challenges caused by extreme weather and other external factors that disrupt green energy power supplies, compensating for the disadvantages of the traditional grid.
Alexander Petrofski, Head of Volvo Cars Technology Fund, said: “We continue to invest in two of our most important goals: full electrification by 2030 and becoming fully climate-neutral by 2040.”
”Partnering with PowerShare means teaming up to make our vehicles a functional part of the energy ecosystem. Smart power and clean energy helps us reduce CO2 emissions and move closer towards our electrification and sustainability targets.”
Volvo Car Asia Pacific President and CEO Yuan Xiaolin hailed the strategic importance of investing in the region: “APAC, with China at its core, has always been a key region for Volvo Cars to accelerate our technological innovation, digital transformation and sustainable development. I’m excited to see the Volvo Cars Tech Fund blossoming in the Chinese market. After landing our first strategic investment here, we will lead the way towards the future of travel for consumers around the globe.”
The Volvo Cars Tech Fund focuses its investments on technology trends that are transforming the auto industry, such as artificial intelligence, electrification, autonomous driving, sustainability, and digital commerce. PowerShare has pioneered a range of advanced technologies that can be useful to Volvo Cars’ innovation and production lifecycles. Volvo Cars plan to explore VPP use cases with PowerShare to utilise the bi-directional charging function of its next-generation vehicles and promote the usage of clean energy.
Volvo Cars believe PowerShare’s virtual power plant and battery technologies will help pave the way for one of the industry’s most ambitious electrification plans as well as help accelerate transformation as Volvo Cars continue to transition to a sustainable and fully-electric future.
SOURCE: Volvo Cars
