BaTTeRi, an Israeli startup, is in the advanced stages of launching Thomas, a self-driving robot designed to autonomously navigate parking lots and charge vehicles without human intervention.

Autonomous robot Thomas (an allusion to both electricity pioneer Thomas Edison and the children’s toy icon Thomas the Tank Engine), primarily aimed at corporate customers, promises to improve charging efficiency and reduce infrastructure costs.

BaTTeRi aims to alleviate the hassle of manual charging by employing AI technology, including sensors and cameras. The robot will identify cars in need of a charge using license plate recognition, and it can cater to multiple vehicles throughout the day. While a future upgrade might include a robotic arm for autonomous plug-in charging, current models require a human to connect the cable. If a vehicle has wireless charging technology, Thomas could just slide underneath and starts filling it with electrons.

The company has targeted corporate clients, emphasizing the cost-effectiveness of their technology. Traditional charging stations are underutilized and expensive, creating long return on investment (ROI) periods for companies. Conversely, Thomas is designed to charge 15-18 cars daily and can achieve an ROI in just a year and a half, according to company projections.

BaTTeRi, founded in 2023 and securing 500,000 dollars in pre-seed funding, has already gained recognition, including an award from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. The robot is set for pilot programs in various countries, demonstrating its viability and versatility.