Munich-based Depotcharge has raised €2.7 million in a pre-seed funding round while partnering with the Bundesverband Güterkraftverkehr Logistik und Entsorgung, or BGL, to establish a nationwide depot charging network for electric trucks in Germany. The financing was led by High-Tech Gründerfonds, with participation from xdeck Ventures, Kopa Ventures, Prequel Ventures, and business angels from the logistics, energy, and e-mobility sectors. Alongside the funding, Depotcharge and BGL are launching BGL Charge, a platform designed to connect privately operated charging infrastructure across Germany's freight transport industry.
Building a Shared Depot Charging Network
BGL Charge enables logistics companies to make unused charging points at their depots available to other transport fleets, creating additional revenue while expanding access to charging infrastructure. Depot operators can determine their own pricing, availability, and access conditions, while Depotcharge manages functions including access control, invoicing, payment processing, and network distribution. The platform operates independently of charging hardware, backend systems, and vehicle manufacturers, allowing different depot infrastructure to be connected to the same network.
The initiative is backed by BGL, which represents approximately 7,000 companies through its regional associations and has selected Depotcharge as a charging network solution for its members. E.L.V.I.S. AG, a purchasing cooperative with more than 250 partner companies operating across over 350 locations, is also supporting the network and integrating its community into the platform. More than 200 companies operating around 600 electric trucks have already registered with Depotcharge, according to the company.
Expanding a Model Established in Switzerland
The German partnership builds on a similar initiative launched by Depotcharge and Swiss transport association ASTAG in May 2026. Through ASTAG Charge, Depotcharge has been developing a shared depot charging network for Switzerland's transport industry based on the same concept of allowing logistics operators to open unused charging capacity to other fleets. Depotcharge now intends to extend that approach throughout the DACH region and the Benelux countries while also increasing participation from industrial and retail businesses.
Chief Executive Officer and co-founder Joscha Specks said the company's model is designed around logistics companies sharing existing charging infrastructure instead of relying solely on new public charging locations. Depotcharge believes the approach can improve utilization of infrastructure that would otherwise remain unused for significant portions of the day while providing fleets with more economical charging options. The company has also established a sales presence in the Benelux region as part of its broader European expansion strategy.
Funding Supports International Growth
Depotcharge plans to use the €2.7 million financing to expand internationally and further develop its platform for integration into everyday transport operations. Product development will focus on capabilities such as charging reservations, open interfaces, and connections with existing transport management systems, making charging infrastructure easier for freight operators to incorporate into dispatch planning. The company argues that deeper integration could make electric truck charging more closely resemble the operational simplicity of conventional refueling.
Depotcharge was founded by Specks and Chief Product and Technology Officer Julius Wilhelm, who previously worked on Digital Charging Solutions, the mobility charging joint venture associated with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and BP Europa. Together, the founders bring more than two decades of experience in electric mobility and are positioning Depotcharge as a manufacturer-neutral infrastructure platform for commercial fleets. The business operates through Evolve Energy GmbH and is active across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Benelux markets.
Depotcharge's funding round and partnership with BGL reflect growing efforts to address charging infrastructure constraints as European logistics companies increase their adoption of electric trucks. By creating a shared network from existing private charging facilities, the company aims to improve infrastructure utilization while lowering dependence on comparatively expensive public charging options. The new capital, combined with partnerships involving major transport organizations, will support Depotcharge's effort to establish a broader cross-border charging network for Europe's road freight sector.