Search: Axle Energy

Axle Energy, a British energy flexibility platform that aggregates EV chargers, batteries and heat pumps for grid balancing, has closed a €21 million Series A led by Energize Capital, with Accel, Picus Capital and Eka Ventures participating. The company will use the funds to expand across the UK and international markets, connecting more distributed energy assets and deepening partnerships with OEMs, utilities and fleet operators. CEO Karl Bach said virtual power plants can bring flexible capacity online in weeks rather than years, reducing reliance on fossil fuel peaker plants when demand spikes.

Why it matters: For charge point operators and fleet managers, Axle's platform offers a revenue stream by turning idle EV chargers into grid services, while procurement teams at utilities and OEMs gain a partner to monetise flexibility and meet rising electricity demand from electrification and data centres. The Series A signals growing investor confidence in software that unlocks value from existing charging infrastructure without new capital expenditure on generation or grid upgrades.

Hendrickson has introduced its first electric drive axle, the Electraax system, developed with Driventic for Classes 6 to 7 trucks and buses. The integrated unit combines motor, inverter, gearbox and axle in a single package, delivering up to 94% system efficiency to extend range and reduce energy consumption. The lightweight, modular design uses a single speed gearbox with full regenerative braking, targeting applications including school buses and last mile delivery routes.

Why it matters: The Electraax system addresses key medium duty electrification challenges around battery size, payload capacity and cost, offering fleets a more efficient powertrain option. Its simplified architecture and high efficiency could influence procurement decisions for operators seeking to electrify Classes 6 to 7 vehicle fleets.

Digital transformation firm Futurice has published its 2026 Electric 40 report, ranking UK and UK-operating eMobility companies across charging, energy and battery intelligence. Startup Axle Energy, founded in 2023, took first place after connecting more than 100,000 devices to UK energy markets via a single API that turns chargers and home batteries into grid-responsive assets. Octopus Energy placed second, now Britain's largest domestic supplier and operator of the Electroverse roaming platform linking over one million chargers globally. The report arrives as the UK installed almost 90,000 public charge points and registered nearly half a million new battery electric vehicles in 2025.

Why it matters: The ranking signals growing investor and procurement interest in software and aggregation layers that monetise flexibility and vehicle-to-grid services, not just hardware deployment. CPOs evaluating partnerships or white-label energy products now have a curated shortlist of platforms proven to integrate charging with wholesale and balancing markets at scale.