From electricity consumer to electricity supplier
What sounds like science fiction has long been part of everyday technology at Pulsetrain. With bidirectional charging, electric vehicles will not only be able to absorb power in the future, but also release it when needed—for example, when energy suppliers need to compensate for short-term power peaks. Niclas Lehnert, founder of Pulsetrain says in the video podcast Pitch & People:
Pitch & People Episodes
PITCH & PEOPLE Episode 6: Pulsetrain
"You essentially get paid for the energy stored in the vehicle—cash. This is the first moment in the history of mobility where you can not only use money with a car, but also actually earn money."
This turns the electric car into a mini power station on four wheels – or in an emergency even into an emergency power source if the grid fails.
Technology with depth: Control at the cellular level
Pulsetrain aims to revolutionize the battery lifecycle. While conventional systems treat all cells equally, the startup's solution enables targeted control of individual cells, thus significantly extending their service life.
"We work at the cellular level. This allows us to target each cell individually, rather than treating them all the same."
explained Lehnert.
The result: a service life of up to 18 years instead of the industry standard 10 to 15 years.
The technology is based on a combination of intelligent power electronics and software that interacts directly with the battery – not just via cooling systems or external factors as with conventional manufacturers.
Pulsetrain vs. BMW: A game changer in detail
Even major manufacturers like BMW have recognized the importance of battery life. With the "New Class," BMW promises a battery life of up to 15 years—a significant advance.
Lehnert but sees this above all as a confirmation of its own approach:
"BMW has made a very good technological step forward with the new class, especially with improved cooling systems. But they always access the cell from the outside. We go directly inside."
While BMW achieves efficiency gains through optimized secondary conditions such as cooling and heat management, Pulsetrain relies on direct electronic access to each individual cell.
The difference: Pulsetrain doesn't change the battery's environment, but rather the battery itself, allowing it to specifically compensate for weaker cells instead of tuning the entire system to them. This leads to a longer service life, greater range, and faster charging times.
Second life for old batteries
Even at the end of their life in the vehicle, Pulsetrain's batteries don't need to be recycled. Instead, the company aims to close the "missing link" in the battery cycle: With a simple software update, used vehicle batteries are to be converted into stationary energy storage units – for example, for solar parks or power grids. Niclas Lehnert describes it like this:
"We're shifting recycling to the true end of the life cycle. We're opening up a new use case between application and recycling."
Pulsetrain thus extends the use of batteries by years – an important lever for sustainability and resource efficiency in electromobility.
Technological advantage from Europe
While Asian markets are leading in battery production, Pulsetrain is consciously positioning itself in Europe. Lehnert emphasizes:
"We see ourselves as the interface between the cell and the application. And that's precisely where our advantage lies."
With this specialization in electronics and software, the Munich-based startup is filling a market gap between cell production and vehicle integration. Initial prototypes have been built, and initial customer projects have been launched, including with Handmann from Baden-Württemberg. After a Seed financing of 6.1 million euros Pulsetrain is now working on industrializing and commercializing its technology. Series production is expected in approximately 12 to 15 months.
