Dutch-based NRG2fly gets funding boost to power up charging network for electric planes

Netherlands-based NRG2fly, a company building the world’s first nationwide charging network for electric planes, has secured fresh funding. The funding amount, however, remains undisclosed.

The investment comes from a group of angel investors and Horizon Flevoland, the regional development company of Flevoland.

As part of this development, day-to-day management of the company will be handed over to Jacco Bink, formerly of KLM and Alliander, and Merlijn van Vliet, affiliated with E-Flight and Electric Flying Connection (EFC).

Merlijn van Vliet, Director of Partnerships and Marketing at NRG2fly, says, “The Netherlands was quite early in investing in a good charging network for electric cars. We’ve done this as one of the best in the world; we’ve truly become a leader in this area. We want to do exactly the same with flying.”

Jacco Bink, Director Consulting at NRG2fly, adds, “Electric flying and charging is literally gaining momentum. The theme of ‘electrification’ is high on the agenda at more and more airports. With NRG2fly, we help these airports with electrification in the broadest sense. From congestion solutions to setting up energy hubs and one interoperable system for charging everything at an airport that can be plugged in, for example, Ground Service Equipment.”

Charging network for electric planes

NRG2fly was founded in 2022 by Maarten Steinbuch, Jurjen de Jong, and Jeroen Kroonen. The founders have worked on electric cars and charging networks. They now apply that experience to aviation through NRG2fly.

The company is based at Lelystad Airport and focuses on the development and rollout of charging infrastructure for electric aircraft at airports in Europe. It supports airports in building and operating systems for electric aviation and works with industry partners to advance the use of electric propulsion in air transport.

NRG2fly is part of the Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation, an initiative by the European Commission that brings together public and private sector partners to prepare for the arrival of zero-emission aircraft.

The company also co-founded the Electric Aircraft working group within the Open Charge Alliance. This group explores how open standards can be used in electric aviation and promotes their adoption across the sector.

Merlijn van Vliet, Director of Partnerships and Marketing at NRG2fly, mentions, “At the moment, as NRG2fly, we are entering a ‘blue ocean’ market – we are one of the first parties worldwide to focus on charging infrastructure for electric aviation.”

“With this positioning, we are convinced that an early market entry will give us a strong starting position for the moment when electric flying reaches a larger scale. Because the Netherlands is relatively small and has so many airports, it is a very nice country to quickly make nationwide coverage in terms of charging infrastructure. With its central location, Lelystad is really the perfect testing ground to be the centre of this network.”

“With 4,200 large and small airports, Europe has a gigantic potential network for electric aircraft. Ideally, we would like to turn this into one large charging network in the coming years.”

NRG2fly, based in Teuge and Lelystad, now includes a team of nine experts. Its clients include Den Helder Airport, Lelystad Airport, E-Deck, Elysian Aircraft, and several government institutions. Elysian Aircraft is developing an electric aircraft with a capacity of 90 seats.

What’s next?

With new capital, NRG2fly will continue its growth by expanding its charging network for electric aircraft and other vehicles. The company also plans to enter the German market this year, where it sees potential across 300 airports.

Jan Klopman, Regional Minister of the Province of Flevoland, says, “By investing in companies like NRG2fly, Horizon hopes to attract more innovative national and international pioneers from sustainable aviation to this region, in order to grow the ecosystem around electric flying.”

Alderman Dennis Grimbergen of the municipality of Lelystad adds, “The future of aviation is sustainable, and we are building it together. For future-proof aviation, we need a strong ecosystem in which knowledge institutions, businesses, education and professionals strengthen each other. Only through this collaboration can we allow innovations like NRG2fly to continue to grow and the Netherlands to play a leading role in electric flying.”

Merlijn van Vliet concludes, “Horizon is a very accessible partner who really understands where we want to go. Their pragmatic approach and local knowledge make the collaboration very pleasant and effective.”