UAE-based venture firm backs Solus Power

Petra Equity Partners has made an investment pledge of £22m (US$28m) into UK-based EV portable charging startup Solus Power to further accelerate battery technology development.

Solus Power is a UK-based developer of EV charging technology that deliver off-the-grid energy storage and charging systems for military forces. 

The company’s technology provides mobile, scalable and on-demand EV charging services in hard to access areas. The DC fast charging battery application units allow EV owners to recharge their vehicles in any public location.  

Solus Power’s engineered products include a portable military-grade, ruggedised power unit named ‘Kratos’ each of which is the size of an attaché case for easy transportation and deployment as well as specifically designed to discretely slide under vehicles to be out of sight and avoid any obstruction.

The Lithium-ion power units, described as ‘Jerry Cans of electricity’, can deliver ultrafast charging to the likes of electric vehicles, drones, or electrical equipment. Through its modular design, users can scale the number of packs to increase energy capacity depending on their needs.

Petra Equity Partners is an investment firm that specialises in identifying disruptive technologies. 

A spokesperson for Petra Equity Partners, said: “Solus Power’s push into the defence and security sector and its ambitious plan to help electrify and evolve such a key, yet sometimes overlooked, sector aligns with our approach to identify key opportunities within certain industries. We are excited about the potential impact of Solus Power’s technology to help advance the electrification of not only the battlefield but also our ever-evolving cities.”

Solus Power Chief Executive Officer, Stas Leonidou, said: “Receiving the incredible support and pledged investment from Petra Equity Partners, is testament to our effort to radically rethink how to mobilise energy and solve the biggest challenge of electrification.

Our collaboration will help accelerate the development and deployment of our charging technologies to transform mobility across the globe, including the defence sector where we believe we can support the evolving criteria of its sustainable and adaptable energy needs.”

The announcement of Solus Power securing a funding pledge from Petra Equity Partners to develop its technologies follows a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with QinetiQ Group, a defence and security technology company, to explore the deployment of its charging technology to provide a viable, flexible energy solution in challenging environments as militaries seek to maintain operational advantage and be less reliant on adversaries for energy.

Solus Power was founded in 2020. It has received support and investment from a range of commercial customers who have expressed interest in the modular charging solutions for applications including car parks, car hire, and defence use. Last month, US-based investment firm Marbanc International invested in the company to expedite the development of its technology to market.