Lisbon’s C2C‑NewCap wins OceanExchange Transportation Hub Award and moves toward EIC Fund equity after EIC Accelerator 'equity only' approval
- ›Lisbon-based C2C‑NewCap won the OceanExchange 2022 Transportation Hub Award and a USD 100,000 prize for hybrid supercapacitor technology.
- ›The company is an EIC Accelerator beneficiary and has completed the final evaluation round as an 'equity only' project, opening talks with the EIC Fund on potential investment.
- ›C2C‑NewCap says its hybrid supercapacitors can replace lead‑acid batteries in EU trucks and cut fuel and CO2, but independent verification and scale up remain open questions.
- ›OceanExchange is a US network that promotes ocean and blue economy innovation and awarded the prize for transport decarbonisation potential.
C2C‑NewCap wins OceanExchange Transportation Hub Award and advances towards EIC Fund equity
Lisbon headquartered C2C‑NewCap was awarded the 2022 Transportation Hub Award by OceanExchange and received USD 100,000 for its energy storage work based on hybrid supercapacitors. The company is a beneficiary of the European Innovation Council Accelerator programme and has completed the final rounds of evaluation as an 'equity only' project. Company representation at the award ceremony was by André Mão de Ferro, Chief Technology Officer.
What the award recognises
OceanExchange described the winning innovation as a breakthrough eco‑friendly energy storage technology based on hybrid supercapacitors that could help decarbonise the energy intensive land transportation sector. The USD 100,000 prize is intended as recognition and a development boost. OceanExchange is a US based network whose mission is to accelerate adoption of innovations that support healthy oceans and a sustainable blue economy. Its awards programme also serves as a visibility platform for early stage technologies seeking partners and buyers.
The technology and product claims
C2C‑NewCap develops hybrid supercapacitors for applications that include automotive start‑stop systems, heavy vehicle energy recovery and stationary storage. The company markets a product called GO‑START aimed at EU trucks as a direct replacement for lead‑acid starter batteries. Company materials claim fuel cost reductions and CO2 emission savings and state the product can eliminate lead from automotive applications.
| Metric | Hybrid supercapacitor (typical claims) | Lead‑acid battery (typical) |
| Energy density | Lower than lithium ion. Sufficient for short duration tasks but lower than lead‑acid on some volumetric or gravimetric metrics depending on design | Higher energy density for long duration storage compared with many supercapacitors |
| Power density | High. Excellent for bursts, fast charge and discharge | Lower. Designed for steady discharge and cranking |
| Cycle life | Very high. Tens or hundreds of thousands of cycles claimed | Lower. Few hundreds to a few thousand cycles |
| Typical use cases | Engine starting, regenerative braking, peak shaving, cold start assist | Starter battery and auxiliary power where sustained energy is required |
EIC Accelerator status and potential EIC Fund investment
C2C‑NewCap is listed as an EIC Accelerator beneficiary. According to the company and EIC communications, it has finalised the HYCAP project and successfully passed the last round of EIC Accelerator evaluations as an 'equity only' project. That status typically means the technical and commercial potential was recognised but that the support package proposed by the EIC shifted toward equity financing rather than grants. The company will soon enter discussions with the EIC Fund about a potential equity investment.
Why this matters and what to watch
The OceanExchange award and EIC Accelerator recognition are positive validation points for a deep tech hardware company. They can help with visibility, early buyer interest and investor outreach. However prizes and accelerator approvals do not equate to market traction. For energy storage hardware the critical next steps are pilot demonstration with fleet operators, independent performance validation under real world conditions, supply chain security for materials, manufacturing scale up and buyer procurement.
Context in the EU innovation ecosystem
The European Innovation Council supports high risk high impact technologies with a mix of grants, coaching and investor readiness services. The EIC Fund exists to co‑invest in promising ventures where public equity can de‑risk private capital. EIC Business Acceleration Services and the EIC Scaling Club provide matchmaking to buyers, corporates and procurers that can be decisive for hardware companies seeking pilots and commercialization routes. For transport decarbonisation technologies, public procurement, industrial partnerships and inclusion in vehicle retrofit or OEM supply chains are common routes to scale.
C2C‑NewCap’s public materials list a variety of projects and academic partners and present metrics for GO‑START. Those metrics suggest fuel and CO2 reductions but the numbers on commercial websites are often indicative and need context. Independent trials and transparent data reporting will be the most important proof points if the technology is to be adopted at scale across EU truck fleets.
Next steps for C2C‑NewCap
Immediate milestones to watch are outcomes of the EIC Fund due diligence and any announced co‑investment, pilot contracts with fleet operators or OEMs, and publication of independent test results from HYCAP or GO‑START field trials. If the EIC Fund chooses to invest, that could unlock further private capital but will also subject the company to investor scrutiny on unit economics, production costs and route to market.
The OceanExchange prize is a useful recognition and modest funding boost. It will help C2C‑NewCap continue development and outreach. Still, moving from validated prototype to market scale in heavy duty transport is capital and time intensive. The company will need commercial pilots, independent verification and supply chain progress to turn the award into broad decarbonisation impact.