The collaboration brings together ETA Green Power’s lightweight, high-efficiency electric drive technology and Bumblebee Power’s advanced high-frequency wireless charging systems to create a new generation of electrified platforms that can operate for longer, charge more efficiently and require minimal human intervention.

As demand grows for autonomous drones and light electric vehicles across logistics, inspection, security, agriculture and industrial applications, operators are increasingly looking for ways to maximise uptime while reducing operational complexity and labour requirements. Traditional charging solutions often require precise positioning, physical connectors and manual intervention, creating limitations for fully autonomous operation.

Bumblebee Power’s inductive charging technology addresses these challenges by enabling multi-kW wireless energy transfer with efficiencies exceeding 90%, while offering greater tolerance when vehicles or drones are positioned over a charging pad. This flexibility reduces alignment constraints and enables reliable autonomous charging without plugs, connectors or human involvement.

Combined with ETA Green Power’s compact electric drive systems, the two companies believe the integrated solution can deliver significant benefits in weight reduction, energy efficiency and system simplicity.

The companies will initially focus on:

• Autonomous drones 
• Autonomous ground vehicles
• Light electric mobility platforms
• Specialist industrial and inspection equipment
• Battery-powered systems requiring automated charging and deployment

By integrating propulsion and charging technologies from the outset, Bumblebee Power and ETA Green Power aim to eliminate unnecessary weight, reduce energy losses and simplify vehicle architectures.

ETA Green Power is developing integrated motors, controllers and charging systems based on its patented slotless motor architecture, designed to deliver high power density and efficiency across a modular platform ranging from 1 kW to 15 kW.

Bumblebee Power’s wireless charging technology uses high-frequency power transfer to deliver multi-kilowatt charging across an air gap without exposed electrical contacts. The technology is particularly suited to autonomous applications where reliability, durability and operational efficiency are critical.

James Dunning, Chief Executive Officer of Bumblebee Power, said: “Autonomous systems can only deliver their full potential if they can recharge themselves efficiently and reliably.”

“Current charging solutions often require precise positioning or human intervention, which creates operational bottlenecks. Our inductive charging technology provides greater placement tolerance while maintaining efficiencies above 90%, making it ideal for drones and autonomous vehicles operating in real-world environments.”

“By combining our wireless charging expertise with ETA’s lightweight electric drive technology, we can create highly efficient systems that maximise uptime and reduce the total cost of operation.”

Alex Bamberg, Chairman of ETA Green Power, said: “The future of autonomous mobility depends on efficiency at every level.”

“Reducing vehicle weight, improving drivetrain efficiency and enabling seamless charging all contribute to longer operating times and greater commercial viability. Together with Bumblebee Power, we see an opportunity to create integrated solutions that deliver measurable benefits for operators of drones, robotics and light electric vehicles.”

Under the agreement, the companies will explore joint customer programmes, feasibility studies, demonstration projects, pilot deployments and funded development initiatives. Specific commercial projects will be subject to separate agreements.

As autonomous technologies continue to expand across multiple industries, the collaboration aims to address one of the sector’s most significant challenges: creating electrified systems capable of operating, charging and redeploying with minimal human involvement while maintaining the highest levels of efficiency and reliability.