Portuguese startup Pollen has raised €3.2 million to advance the development of a universal battery swapping network for mopeds and motorcycles, aimed at accelerating the electrification of two-wheelers in Europe.
The funding round was led by Pale Blue Dot and Mustard Seed Maze, according to Tech Funding News. It also included participation from Kfund, Bynd, 4P CAPITAL, Masia, and several angel investors with experience in mobility and micromobility.
Among the angel investors are George Kalligeros, previously at TIER (now Dott), Gui Telles, formerly at Uber/JUMP, and Bastian Cransac of Lime.
Founded in 2024 by Rui Bento and Miguel Morgado, Pollen is developing both automated battery swapping stations and a universal battery pack designed to work across different vehicle manufacturers.
Bento formerly served as general manager of Uber in Portugal and Iberia, before becoming regional general manager for Southern Europe at Uber Eats. He later founded Kitch, a cloud kitchen startup that was acquired by Glovo in 2022. Morgado previously co-founded Hunter, a luxury urban tech company focused on building premium micro-mobility vehicles.
Building a universal battery swapping system
Central to Pollen’s approach is a universal battery equipped with electronic cell-switching technology. The system is designed to allow a single battery pack to safely power vehicles from different manufacturers without compromising performance.
Instead of charging, riders swap depleted batteries for fully charged ones at automated stations. The company says the process takes less than a minute, removing the need for charging time, queues, and range anxiety. The stations operate 24/7.
Early infrastructure in Lisbon
Pollen has already deployed its first three swapping stations in Lisbon, located at Galp service stations in Amoreiras, Alvalade, and Lumiar.
These initial sites represent the first step in the company’s plan to scale a subscription-based swapping network for urban mobility and delivery use cases.
Pollen argues that the sector requires a different approach compared to passenger cars.
“Electrifying mopeds and motorcycles in Europe takes more than replicating the model used for cars. It needs a solution that is more affordable and more practical than petrol. That’s what Pollen offers,” said Bento.
A key part of the company’s strategy is interoperability. Unlike closed ecosystems such as Gogoro in Taiwan or Honda’s Mobile Power Pack system, where batteries and vehicles are designed together, Pollen is aiming for a universal standard compatible across manufacturers.
The company’s long-term ambition is to support up to 100 million fossil-fuel-free rides and deliveries per day globally, and it has already confirmed plans to expand into Spain.
Featured image: Pollen co-founders Miguel Morgado (L) and Rui Bento (Photo courtesy of Pollen/via Tech Funding News)
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