TOLV

TOLV, formerly known as Phoenix Mobility, is a French company founded in 2019 that specializes in retrofitting commercial vehicles from internal combustion engines to 100% electric. The company was founded by five students, including Wadie Maaninou, Antoine Desferet, Filip Gardler, Sylvain Deplace and Raphaël Heches, four of whom were from the Grenoble INP-Ense3 engineering school. The idea originated from a university entrepreneurship module, where co-founders Wadie Maaninou and Filip Gardler were inspired to industrialize the artisanal concept of vehicle electrification.

TOLV designs, manufactures, and installs electric conversion kits for light commercial vehicles, targeting professionals, private companies, and public sector entities looking to decarbonate their fleets in a cost-effective manner. The company's clients include prominent names such as Vinci and La Poste, as well as municipalities like the City of Grenoble and the Metropolis of Rouen. Its business model includes the direct sale of retrofit kits, the sale of pre-converted vehicles, and leasing options. For example, retrofit kits for the Renault Master start at €26,900, while purchasing a converted vehicle begins at €36,900.

A significant milestone for TOLV is its strategic partnership with Renault Group. This collaboration involves the industrial-scale assembly of TOLV's kits at Renault's Refactory plant in Flins, the first European circular economy factory dedicated to mobility. This partnership allows TOLV to be the only market player offering mass-produced retrofitted vehicles. The company has developed approved kits for the Renault Trafic and, more recently, the Renault Master III. These kits feature a 57 kW motor and a 52 kWh battery, providing a WLTP range of approximately 200 kilometers. The batteries are guaranteed for 4 years or 150,000 km.

Financially, TOLV has secured several funding rounds, including €3 million in 2021 and €6.5 million in 2023, to accelerate its growth and industrialization. Key investors include Amundi, Shift4Good, and Rhône Dauphiné Développement. As a mission-driven company under the French PACTE law, TOLV's stated purpose is to make mobility cleaner and more accessible.

Keywords: electric vehicle conversion, automotive retrofit, commercial fleet electrification, EV kits, sustainable mobility, fleet decarbonization, circular economy, Renault Master retrofit, Renault Trafic retrofit, light commercial vehicles, zero-emission vehicles, greentech, French Tech, vehicle upcycling, fleet management solutions, EV powertrain, battery technology, cleantech, industrial retrofitting, sustainable transport