Utrecht-based NOWOS, a battery repair specialist for cars and bicycles, announced that it aims to expand across Europe with plans to open 20 new branches in the next five years.
Starting in Germany in 2024, the company targets expansion in Italy and Spain in 2025, followed by Denmark, Austria, Poland, Romania, and Greece in subsequent years.
Appointment of a new COO
In preparation for its European expansion, NOWOS has welcomed Steven Uitentuis as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) starting February 1. Uitentuis, co-founder and former CEO of Swapfiets, brings experience in mobility and scaling business processes.
His immediate responsibilities include overseeing NOWOS operations in the Netherlands and France, encompassing 4,200 square meters of industrial facilities.
The new COO speaks of a “great opportunity and challenge to work together with two heavyweights from the energy industry.”
In a company statement translated from Dutch, Uitentuis says, “NOWOS has doubled in size every year over the last three years, is now profitable and won the golden award for European startup of the year in 2022.”
“I see enormous potential for scaling up, especially now that we can repair around 93 per cent of the defective batteries submitted. Repairing is not only more sustainable, it is also much cheaper than purchasing a new battery. In this way, we make the business case of the circular economy profitable for B2B partners.”
Jan Bartels, former director of Stibat, remains in the NOWOS management team, serving as the Compliance Officer.
Brief about NOWOS
Founded in 2019 by Ambre Eppler, Steven Bradshaw, Jan Bartels and Prins Doornekamp, NOWOS specialises in repairing and reusing lithium-ion batteries, aligning with the global move towards a circular economy and contributing to the European Green Pact.
The company is strategically positioned with operational repair factories in the Netherlands, France, and England, enabling swift responses and adaptability to customer needs.
The company is dedicated to assisting businesses in their social, ecological, and economic transitions by collaboratively shaping the circular economy of lithium batteries.
NOWOS is looking for additional funds
NOWOS is actively seeking new investors to support its growth. After securing financing from Rabobank and the National Green Fund last year, NOWOS is on the lookout for additional funding to expand its current repair facilities.
The goal is to accommodate the increasing influx of used lithium-ion batteries. The company also plans to allocate part of the investment towards the development and production of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) based on second-life cells.
This technology aims to create energy storage facilities, such as providing energy to industrial estates.
NOWOS founder Prins Doornekamp, aims for growth in the upcoming years within the mobility, industrial, and energy storage markets. These sectors witness significant sales of lithium-ion batteries, and NOWOS aims to capitalise on opportunities within these markets.
Doornekamp says, “We want to respond to the global transition to a circular economy and contribute to the European Green Pact. With three operational repair factories in the Netherlands, France and England, NOWOS is already able to respond quickly and adapt to the needs of our customers.”
“Legislation regarding the ‘Right to Repair’ will also come into effect from 2027, making our solutions necessary throughout the EU,” adds Doornekamp.
Read the orginal article: https://siliconcanals.com/news/nowos-appoints-new-coo/
