Navigating the road ahead
Battery tech is quietly transforming
The most headline-grabbing breakthroughs in battery tech (like solid-state cells and silicon-anode chemistries) are still primarily unfolding in the automotive (Medium Electric Vehicles) space. It’s exciting work, but not yet directly applicable to the kinds of vehicles we build: electric construction machines and light electric mobility platforms.
That said, what happens in automotive today often shapes what becomes viable in our segment tomorrow. So we follow these developments closely; from the evolution of lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cells to modular BMS integration. Ready to move when the tech becomes robust, affordable, and scalable enough for our machines and products.
We’re not here to chase trends for their own sake. But when a new chemistry or architecture gives our customers a competitive edge, in performance, uptime or sustainability, we want to be first to bring it to market.
Autonomy is splitting into two tracks
In the passenger car world, full autonomy is the holy grail (with players like Tesla and Waymo racing toward driverless operation). However, in our domain of heavy-duty vehicles and specialized light electric vehicles, we see that there’s always a human in the loop.
That doesn’t mean the systems are simple. Quite the opposite. We’re seeing strong momentum around intelligent support systems: operator assistance, obstacle detection, semi-autonomous task execution. In some cases, the operator is no longer in the machine at all, but working remotely from a control room; connected via 5G, supported by real-time telemetry, and even using haptic feedback to stay in touch with the environment.
This is where we focus our efforts. Not on replacing the operator, but on giving them superpowers. Smarter systems mean safer jobs, more precision, and better performance under pressure.
Efficiency is now a design obsession
In our world, efficiency isn’t about squeezing out more kilometers per charge; it’s about enabling more productive hours on the job. Whether it’s a compact electric loader or a full-scale excavator, our goal is to make electric the preferred option. That means designing machines that feel responsive, are always ready when needed, and deliver a smooth user experience that matches or even outperforms their diesel predecessors.
Energy efficiency plays a huge role in that. We optimize every system, from drivetrain to hydraulics, to make sure power is used exactly where it matters. And with Smart Operations, we go a step further: integrating machine charging with ERP systems, so every vehicle charges to the right capacity, at the right time, based on operational data and the planning for that day or week.
The essence of Smart Charging and Smart Operations is that we balance the machines’ demand and supply of energy, with supply and demand from the electricity grid. For example, at times of excess supply of electricity (a very sunny or windy day with solar panels or wind turbines at high capacity) the machine’s excess battery capacity may be used as a buffer. Vice versa, machines may discharge their batteries partly through V2G bidirectional charging at times of high demand for electricity.
In addition to the day-ahead electricity market, we are also investigating using real-time data to provide solutions for the so-called intra-day, balancing and congestion markets on the actual day itself. This further supports grid companies with maintaining the supply-demand balance and allows the construction companies to profit from an additional part of the electricity market.
This shift also connects directly to what’s happening in charging infrastructure. A wave of intelligent infrastructure is coming — and not just faster, but smarter. From 2027, new EU regulations (including ISO 15118-20) will require charging systems to be bidirectional, interoperable and grid-aware. That means no more vendor-locked solutions, but open standards that support V2G, dynamic load balancing, solar and wind integration, and smart scheduling.
We’re aligning our hardware and software architecture with this evolution. Our machines are built to plug into this new reality — not just to charge faster, but to interact intelligently with the energy system around them.
It’s not just about being clean. It’s about being smarter. In the way machines run, charge, and integrate into the bigger operational picture.
Modularity and customization are now expected
One-size-fits-all? Not anymore. Whether it’s construction firms needing different axle loads for specific terrain, or local service providers working under tight regulatory constraints in urban environments: customization is no longer optional.
Our platform-first approach means we can deliver tailored machines and light electric vehicles without reinventing the wheel every time. It’s how we keep lead times low, reliability high, and customers productive.
And customization goes beyond just vehicle specs. On many construction sites, we’re also seeing local energy storage systems emerge — often in combination with AC microgrids as an alternative to diesel generators. That means our machines need to be adaptable not just to different tasks, but to different energy environments too.
Cybersecurity is a built-in by design
In an increasingly connected world, cybersecurity isn’t something you patch on later. It’s something you build in from the start. Our over-the-air (OtA) platform is designed with full compliance to the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), ensuring that every remote update, data handshake and diagnostic signal is secure by design.
We work closely with partners like Mender.io to implement a robust and verifiable security architecture. This includes embedded certificates, secure update protocols and system-wide safeguards — all built into the OtA infrastructure we use across our platforms.
And it goes beyond updates. We apply the same level of resilience to our core systems — from DotLink to edge-connected controllers — to make sure your machines stay operational, protected and reliable, even in the face of evolving threats.
Because in our world, uptime isn’t optional. It’s mission critical.
The road ahead is electric, no doubt about that. But it’s also intelligent, connected, adaptive ànd built by companies willing to do the hard engineering to make that future real. At Dot Robot, that’s the work we love. For CTOs, engineers and mobility pioneers this is the moment to lean in, rethink assumptions, and keep building forward.
Get in touch
If you want to learn more and discuss with one of our specialists in this field, please feel free to contact Willem Zwetsloot directly.
Willem Zwetsloot
Managing Director / Co-owner
