MOLE Joins Automotive Trade Body SMMT 

We are thrilled to report that MOLE has joined the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) in June 2022 as an Associate. SMMT is one of the largest trade organisations in the automotive industry in the UK, representing more than 800 companies in this vital sector. Through its engagement with government, regulatory authorities, and the media, SMMT is an influential voice for the automotive sector, weighing in on various issues within and affecting the industry. 

We look forward to deepening our engagement with other SMMT member companies and bringing the conversation around autonomous charging to the forefront of the automotive industry in the UK.

Autotech Council: INNOVATION IN MOTION

Since 2012, Autotech Council meets every month to discover startups, new technologies, and relevant innovation. Autotech Council members are forward-looking carmakers, T1s, investors and mobility companies who are committed to working with new companies, investing in new technologies, and partnering with startups who are pushing the boundaries of innovation in mobility.

Autotech Council members met in June for a ‘SPOTLIGHT ON FLEET ELECTRIFICATION’. Electrification of fleets is more than batteries; when a fleet can’t send its drivers to a gas station, there is room for many new technologies, solutions, and startups.

The MOLE team was excited to be invited to pitch at the event and engage with the members through the Q&A session chaired by fleet electrification experts from Avanta Ventures and Nissan.

Access our pitch here.

Clean Air Day 2022

Every year, air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths in the UK.  The World Health Organisation. Air pollution can harm every organ in the body and shorten lives, contribute towards chronic illness and put people more at risk from COVID-19. When polluted air is breathed, it can inflame the lining of the lungs and move into our bloodstream, affecting every organ in the body. This can lead to lung disease, heart disease, dementia and strokes.

Clean Air Day, the UK’s largest campaign on air pollution, was successfully coordinated on 16 June 2022 by sustainability charity Global Action Plan. In its sixth year, Clean Air Day helps to drive a positive shift in public knowledge and action to reduce air pollution.

MOLE is working with top tier commercial fleet operators to accelerate their transition to electric mobility. A large number of these vehicles will operate in residential areas favourably impacting local air quality while also achieving net-zero ambitions.

MOLE joined Global Action Plan, Buckingham Business First and Buckingham Council to celebrate Clean Air Day at the University of Buckingham. It was inspiring to meet so many local businesses come together to collaborate and reinforce collective efforts to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions.

MOLE exhibits at TechCrunch TC Sessions: Mobility 2022, Silicon Valley

We had a great time at TechCrunch TC Sessions: Mobility 2022 at the San Mateo County Event Centre. The event attracted mobility’s movers, shakers, shippers, and unicorn makers from the SF Bay Area and beyond. We were delighted to receive lots of visitors at our booth expressing a keen interest in MOLE! It was fantastic to meet, mingle and network with professionals and businesses at the forefront of innovation in mobility. Thank you to all who passed by.

See you at the TechCrunch Annual Mobility Summit in San Mateo

The MOLE team will be at the flagship mobility event by TechCrunch from May 18-20, 2022 in Silicon Valley. This is the event for everything that is rewiring transportation and a meeting of visionary founders, expert technologists, gutsy investors and crucial policymakers in areas like automotive, AV development, aviation, EV infrastructure, regulatory issues, VC trends and so much more. Come and meet the MOLE team at our booth and get to know us and MOLE.

MOLE participates in the Innovation Showcase

MOLE presents at the 3rd SMLL Community Showcase along with other members who shared their value proposition, insights and new projects to participants from across the UK transport sector.

MOLE joins SMLL

We are invited to join TRL’s Smart Mobility Living Lab (SMLL), a London-based, real-world connected environment for testing and developing future transport and mobility solutions. Here we get to brainstorm with members at the cutting edge of automotive development – from National Highways to Nissan, Cisco, Honda, Aviva and Imperial College.   

Martyn Smith joins as non-executive advisor

Martyn Smith, ex Group CFO of Avis Rentals, joins MOLE as non-executive advisor. Martyn brings his highly valued FTSE 350 experience. Martyn has extensive experience in scaling early stage businesses, particularly in the mobility sector, and joins us at a crucial time in MOLE’s development.

MOLE establishes a US presence

The President of the United States announces historic measures to electrify America’s transport system. Purchases of petrol vehicles are sought to be eradicated by 2035. We are excited by these developments and MOLE establishes a US presence with a business development team, led by Jean Perarnaud. Jean brings to MOLE great entrepreneurial energy and top tier expertise in private equity, utilities and infrastructure sectors.

Prototyping move from our labs to vehicles

After months of collaboration with top tier fleets, we began modifications on a vehicle from one of the most advanced grocery delivery fleets in the country. A momentous month as our prototyping and trials finally shift from the lab to the real world. Our partner’s group is a pioneer in online retailing and automated logistics. They works with grocery retailers in the UK and across the world to create online success and automate logistics. Our team has been working closely with our partner’s the freight teams to align MOLE with their priorities and requirements. We are delighted to be starting trials with a live delivery van.

UK Patent approved

MOLE’s first UK patent is approved. Our strategy to develop an IP rich platform for sustainable mobility across the transport system is beginning to take hold.

Thought leadership

MOLE CEO, Auroskanda Vepari, presents at the Decarbonising Transport through Electrification (DTE) Network. The DTE Network is hosted by Cardiff University, one of the UK’s leading centres for research and expertise in electric mobility.

Collaboration with WMG

We are proud to be collaborating with WMG Warwick, the celebrated research department of Warwick University, known for its collaborative partnerships with industry, with a particular edge on automotive development.

OZEV funding secured

We are proud to secure a competitive grant from Innovate UK and OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) in partnership with TRL. The award recognises MOLE’s role as a key element in the infrastructure for zero emission vehicles in the UK. TRL is a team of expert scientists, engineers and specialists working together with our clients and partners to create the future of transport.

Our Partnership with TRL

We are delighted to collaborate with Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), to bring autonomous charging to the market.

Funding secured with GCARE

After a nailbiting funding submission, we win a Collab21 grant in partnership with GCARE, Global Centre for Clean Air Research, University of Surrey. Our proposal is to collect air quality readings using sensors in the MOLE’s underground system, collecting data at tailpipe level, where most emissions happen. This gives a far more accurate picture of street level pollution. Our project made a good case for continuing to explore air quality sensor integration in partnership with GCARE going forward.

MOLE Lab established

We are honoured to join a raft of cutting edge businesses, from startups to multinationals, at Surrey Technology Centre, a major centre of excellence in technology, science, health and engineering.

Thought leadership at industry event

As part of SETsquared’s Scale-Up programme, we are invited to present Mole at the FT’s Future of Mobility summit, featuring as one of the Technology Distruptors innovating in the mobility space.

MOLE wins Innovate UK funding

We win an SBRI (Small Business Research Initiative) grant from Innovate UK. This gives us the wherewithal to significantly advance our product design, test and validate important sub-systems using our first desktop prototype and create the software architecture design for the charging system. We begin work on our vehicle inlet adapter to be fitted to the undercarriage of existing EVs and carry out user consultations to help us better evaluate and respond to customer demand.

MOLE prototype development

Our development journey begins with our first grant from the UK Government’s Department for Transport (DfT). We used the T-TRIG (Transport Technology Research Innovation Grants) grant to fund the MOLE’s product design, prototype development and software development, building on previous feasibility studies. During this 6-month project we developed our technology concept into designs that could be tested and prototyped in a lab environment, the crucial first step in the birth of the MOLE. We were also selected to present our innovation to the Minister for Transport, Rachel Maclean MP, who has remained a strong advocate of our work. Thank you Rachel!

CU and MOLE secure EPSRC funding

We partner with Cardiff University to win a grant from The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the main funding body for engineering and physical sciences research in the UK.

Enterprise M3 LEP funding

We apply for and win (!) a EnterpriseM3 LEP grant to develop charging solutions that respond to post COVID challenges. As a hands-free solution, MOLE is ready for the era of touchless technology.

MOLE joins Scale-Up Program

SETSquared, ranked global number one as a University Business Incubator, invites MOLE to join its Scale-Up Program for high growth tech businesses.