Introducing New Microvast Interview Series “Driving the Future: Real Stories from Commercial EV Pioneers”
Pete Speck is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of eVersum, a company dedicated to transforming public transport with electric and autonomous vehicles. Based in Austria, eVersum develops innovative solutions like the eShuttle and eCity Bus for a sustainable future. We spoke with Pete to learn more about their journey and the role of Microvast’s technology in their success.
Microvast: Hi Pete, it’s great to see eVersum presenting the eShuttle at so many exhibitions and customer events. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us today. Let’s get started with our first questions. Who are the main customers for your autonomous shuttles, and how do you adapt your offerings to meet their needs?
Pete Speck, eVersum: Our main customers for autonomous shuttles include municipalities, public transportation authorities, private transport operators, and large-scale organizations such as universities, business parks, and resorts. With our modular vehicle design — available in 6.9 m and 8.4 m lengths — and slightly larger capacity, accommodating 9 to 19 seated passengers along with barrier-free space for wheelchairs and strollers, we can seamlessly support a wide range of operations. These include line-service or feeder bus routes, as well as on-demand services in public transport.
Moreover, our flexibility in partnering with various autonomous driving technology providers enables customers to choose the “best fit” solution. This adaptability ensures that the chosen overall vehicle proposition, base vehicle in combination with the AD-stack, aligns perfectly with technological, geographical, regulatory, or operational preferences.
Microvast: That’s really interesting. On that note, we recently saw the news about your project in Hamburg — congratulations! It sounds like a major achievement. How do you see this kind of technology shaping public transport in busy urban areas like Hamburg soon?
Pete Speck, eVersum: It marks a significant step toward sustainable and innovative mobility solutions. Together with our project partners, the goal is to implement an autonomous shuttle system that improves connectivity within Hamburg Harburg’s local public transport network and demonstrates that future-proof technologies are already available and can be deployed in operations while being continuously refined. Additionally, the project aims to explore and enhance public acceptance and attitudes toward such solutions, laying the foundation for future scalability and the broader rollout of autonomous operations.
Microvast: We’re proud to be part of eVersum’s journey over the last years with our technology. Speaking of that, let’s talk about Microvast’s role. How does our battery technology help ensure the performance, safety, and sustainability of the eShuttle?
Pete Speck, eVersum: Microvast produces low-floor batteries with high energy density, fast charging capabilities, and a long lifespan, delivering outstanding performance for our eShuttles. The safety concept is ensured through an advanced Battery Management System (BMS), thermally stable materials, and a robust, fire-resistant design. Additionally, Microvast was an early adopter of sustainability initiatives, ensuring compliance with all market requirements. According to SAQ 5.0 standards, Microvast operates at an exceptionally high level.
Microvast: That’s great to hear! And how has the partnership with Microvast influenced the technical capabilities and market readiness of your vehicles?
Pete Speck, eVersum: Microvast has been our trusted partner since the very beginning of our eShuttle development. The exceptional support from the entire Microvast team enabled us to significantly shorten our time to market, allowing us to implement and commission the batteries smoothly and without any major issues. To this day, our collaboration with Microvast remains highly professional and consistently goal-oriented. It is founded on jointly established and achievable parameters, ensuring our continued success in the market.
Microvast: It’s always rewarding to hear that our work together is making a difference. Looking ahead, what’s eVersum’s long-term vision for the development of autonomous and electric commercial vehicles?
Pete Speck, eVersum: With our classic eShuttle with a driver, we are about to successfully establish ourselves in the market, both in public transportation and at airports. The goal in this area will be to scale our production capacities. In the field of autonomous shuttles, we currently hold a unique position, offering a vehicle today that is modern, user-friendly and consequently designed from the ground up, and which is already equipped with the necessary redundant systems architecture to enable Level 4 autonomous operation. We aim to build on this foundation and establish ourselves as the leading player in the market for shuttles of this size.
Microvast: Thanks for sharing all of that, Pete. It’s helpful to hear your perspective and vision. Before we finish, one last question: how do you feel about Microvast’s performance, service support, and quality over the past three years we’ve worked together?
Pete Speck, eVersum: As previously mentioned, eVersum has been very satisfied with the performance, service, and quality of Microvast batteries over the past years, as well as the overall collaboration. We are currently working closely with Microvast to explore the implementation of their new cell generations in our eShuttles. The potential integration of these higher-performance batteries, featuring enhanced energy density and extended cycle life, will undoubtedly further increase the market appeal of our eShuttles.
Microvast: We’re so glad to hear that and are excited about what’s ahead. It’s been a pleasure to work with eVersum as you scale up and continue to innovate. Your focus on being fast and forward-thinking fits perfectly with our approach, and we’re looking forward to seeing more eShuttles out on the streets of European cities. Thanks again for taking the time to talk with us, Pete.
Contact:
Investor Relations
