Austrian Startup REPS Raises $23.6m to Turn Road Traffic into Electricity
May 22, 2026 – 9:57 am
Tyrol-based REPS has plugged its first "road power plant" into the Port of Hamburg. The startup’s technology harvests energy from truck traffic, aiming for efficient and scalable implementation.
About REPS
Founded in 2023 by Alfons Huber, REPS has raised $23.6m to scale its patented Road Energy Production System. The funds will support deployment at ports, logistics hubs, and cities.
A New Approach to Energy Harvesting
Energy harvesting, a field with two decades of theoretical interest and practical challenges, has seen limited success due to inefficient converters and short lifespans. Huber claims REPS’ mechanical converter is 254 times more efficient than existing systems on the market.
Proving the Concept
Since November 2025, a 12-meter REPS unit has operated at Hamburger Container Service in the Port of Hamburg, generating over 6,700 kWh of electricity from more than 115,000 trucks since installation.
“The installation at our facility demonstrates the potential of REPS: where vehicles have to brake anyway, clean energy is recovered and can be used directly where we need it,” said Justin Karnbach, chief executive of HCS.
Commercial Potential
REPS argues that its technology leverages existing infrastructure without additional space or interference with traffic flow. The startup is in talks with over 90 port operators globally, aiming for widespread implementation.
Ambitions and Considerations
REPS estimates that installing about 230 units across the Port of Hamburg could generate roughly 10 GWh annually, powering approximately 2,800 households with a four-year payback period. At city scale, it targets 64,000 units in a city the size of Dubai, covering 10.8% of total electricity consumption.
The company also cites a global theoretical potential of 5% of world electricity demand from road traffic. However, these claims are modeled and depend on ideal installation conditions.