WELECTRIC, a first of its kind full-fledged e-mobility chain in the Netherlands, announced on Tuesday that it has secured €500K from Bloomit Ventures, an Amsterdam-based active investor and accelerator of Light Electric Vehicles (LEV).
WELECTRIC, based in Amsterdam, provides a fragmented range of e-mobility accessible with a collection of light electric vehicles (LEVs) – from e-step and fat bikes to cargo bikes and microcars. Currently, the startup has stores in Amsterdam, Weesp, Bussum, and Rotterdam, with more to follow.
Light Electric Vehicle (LEV)
In addition to the conventional car, scooter, and bicycle, a new domain of Light Electric Vehicles (LEV) is emerging, says the Dutch company.
According to WELECTRIC, LEVs can be used as emission-free alternatives for cheaper, faster travel from point A to point B. They also have the added benefit of a low footprint in terms of energy, space, weight, and materials.
For example, a range of 100 km is often achievable for only €1.50 in power costs.
“Most daily trips are between 5 and 19 KM. So every replaced car journey immediately yields money in terms of fuel, parking costs, and door-to-door time,” says the company.
For commuting and other daily trips, the platform offers e-mobility alternatives like fat bikes, roomy cargo bikes, or microcars.
What does WELECTRIC solve?
The idea of WELECTRIC was born in a hotel lobby in Amsterdam-North during the pandemic in 2020.
The co-founders, Rogier Eg, Wouter Klaase, and Ivo Brandsma, have been following the rise of e-mobility for years. They want to inspire people with this new domain of light electric vehicles that are durable, convenient, and cool.
Even though electric cars and vans are currently making their way into city centres, they come with their own set of challenges.
Although cleaner than conventional vehicles, electric cars, and vans tend to weigh more, leaving little room for manoeuvring around tight corners and contributing to traffic jams, parking pressure, and particulate emissions.
WELECTRIC responds to these changes with a quality range of light electric vehicles and all the associated services. It’s a one-stop shop that also offers accessories, financing, insurance, repair, and maintenance.
Investor
Based out of Amsterdam, Bloomit is an active investor in, and accelerator of Light Electric Vehicles (LEV), run by the founders of Babboe Cargo Bikes. The VC invests in startups and scaleups with smart mobility solutions for all types of people, trips, and seasons.
In the spring of 2022, Bloomit decided to invest in WELECTRIC to jointly accelerate the LEV transition and thus, contribute to more liveable, clean cities.