© Tania Reinicke // BUSSENIUS & REINICKE
everything PE recently interviewed Tim Karcher, Chief Executive Officer, at innolectric AG. innolectric AG specializes in developing and manufacturing innovative components for electromobility.
Q. Can you give us a brief history of innolectric? When was the company founded and what was the goal?
Tim Karcher: We started as a small team of engineers developing components for the electric powertrain. The demand for our innovative components was very high right from the start. In 2016 the company was founded and since 2018 we have been operating under the brand "innolectric". With a deep understanding of power electronics and charging communication, we focus on products for seamless international charging of electric vehicles (EVs).
Q. Can you tell us more about your product portfolio?
Tim Karcher: We develop solutions for easy, reliable, and safe AC and DC charging of electric vehicles, even in challenging environments and in stationary applications. These include on-board chargers, charging communication controllers, and combined solutions. Our products are completely developed in-house and can therefore be also adapted to specific solutions based on customer requirements. Our products comply with all relevant charging standards and can be used internationally.
Q. Which market segments do you cater to?
Tim Karcher: The future of mobility is electric: Whether for passenger transportation or commercial vehicles such as sweepers in the field of municipal vehicle sector or forklifts in intralogistics. New electric mobility concepts are also become increasingly important in the field of heavy trucks and construction machinery. innolectric supports companies operating in areas such as airfield and mining. Other applications where our efficient technology makes charging easy and flexible include electric vehicles in off-road applications such as agriculture. Our charging components can also be found in on-road applications such as light to heavy trucks as well as marine applications or equipment use cases for refrigeration.
Q. What are the key challenges faced in electromobility charging? How is innolectric overcoming those challenges and contributing to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles?
Tim Karcher: Established vehicle manufacturers must make the transition from internal combustion engines to electric mobility and build up in-depth know-how in a short period. At the same time, international standards are evolving very quickly. One example is the NACS charging standard, which was set by Tesla in the US in a very short time and is now being adopted by a variety of OEMs. Development cycles are shorter and functional requirements change from customer to customer.
Q. Can you tell us more about innolectric’s On-board Chargers? How do they ensure compatibility and interoperability with various electric vehicles and charging infrastructures?
Tim Karcher: The innolectric on-board charger guarantees AC and DC charging due to the implemented power electronics and integrated charging communication. The development teams at innolectric have extensive experience in charging communication, thanks to numerous tests in the field and with customers. Market requirements are constantly evolving with evolving standards and a very heterogeneous state of communication protocols. With many years of supporting this development, innolectric is a leading provider of easy to integrate and highly compatible charging communication.
innolectric On-Board Charger
In addition, the innolectric on-board charger, which is one of the most efficient on the market, offers very easy integration. Upon request, we also offer customers integration support from design to implementation. This means that the time from arrival of the component to commissioning and the first successful charging of the EV is minimal and can be completed with little effort.
Q. How do innolectric’s On-board Chargers handle communication with the charging infrastructure?
Tim Karcher: The various standards define clear signal content, sequences, and timing that must be adhered to. We ensure this through extensive interoperability testing so that the charging communication between the electric vehicle and the charging infrastructure works reliably.
Q. Can you tell us about innolectric's role in promoting emission-free transportation through innovative charging solutions?
Tim Karcher: Electric mobility enables lower emissions in transportation, both on and off the road. innolectric supports vehicle manufacturers in developing more areas of application for electric mobility and in making the charging of vehicles as easy as possible.
innolectric is at the forefront of promoting emission-free transportation by developing cutting-edge charging solutions that facilitate the transition of electric mobility. Our innovative on-board chargers are designed to optimize energy efficiency, reduce charging times, and seamlessly integrate with electric vehicles, making them more accessible and convenient for both manufacturers and consumers. By focusing on scalable, high-performance technologies, we ensure that our products not only meet today’s needs but also anticipate future trends in clean energy transportation. At innolectric, we're proud to play a pivotal role in the transition to sustainable, zero-emission transportation through smart, reliable charging solutions that are designed to accelerate the global adoption of electric vehicles.
Q. How is innolectric leveraging its expertise in power electronics to advance electric mobility in underground environments?
Tim Karcher: innolectric has carried out several underground electric vehicle projects. The environment is very demanding: Emissions must be avoided to reduce the cost of exhaust fumes and to protect workers. Thanks to our extensive expertise in power electronics and charging communication, we can offer tailor-made solutions for these requirements. innolectric has extensive experience in the field of stationary power electronics and their integration, including under EX standards in hazardous areas. We have supported customers in numerous projects with our standard components.
Q. How has the collaboration between innolectric and STMicroelectronics evolved over the years?
Tim Karcher: innolectric has joined the STMicroelectronics Partner Program in 2019 to leverage ST’s innovative technology to make its products even more efficient and robust. In addition, both partners are collaborating on developing efficient power electronics with a view to the future. The close cooperation with STMicroelectronics enables the innolectric customers to rely on the most efficient technology for power electronics.
Q. What are the key goals innolectric has set for 2025? Is there an expansion in the company's product lineup?
Tim Karcher: Our portfolio is constantly evolving. The needs of the field are constantly evolving. Our goal is to stay one step ahead with our hardware and software expertise and our deep understanding of power electronics in e-mobility solutions. Customers can expect portfolio updates on products in depth and breadth. As a partner with a long-time track record in this topic, we will also continue to expand our business more globally.
About Tim Karcher
Tim Karcher is the Chief Executive Officer, at innolectric AG. He is passionately committed to electromobility. As a student in Bochum, Germany, he developed electric vehicles that were entirely solar-powered. During his time as a team manager, his former SolarCar project from Bochum was the first to put an entirely solar-powered electric vehicle on the street. The crowning achievement was the circumnavigation of the globe with the team and an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. He was later able to bring his passion for electromobility to various projects as a consultant to the automobile industry. He also deepened his generalist knowledge during further positions in Munich and Zurich. He has been part of innolectric since its founding—then as Scienlab engineering center—, and has prepared the company for its future tasks. With the restructuring of the company as innolectric, Tim Karcher first managed the GmbH and then served on the board of innolectric AG. Together with his dedicated team, he is enthusiastically building the dynamically growing company into a permanent fixture in the electrical future.
