THE FIRM

摘要

Rick Lenssen spent two years in TU Delft's Nuon Solar Team. After completing that adventure, he decided to introduce the technology to other vehicles together with his associate Boy Trip. "A caravan seemed like the most suitable option", Lenssen says. It is also the most rewarding, with a superannuated market bursting with potential. And that is without even mentioning the target group of retirees, who, if the entrepreneurs are to be believed, are at their happiest when outdoing their neighbour on the campsite with the latest gadgets. SMART-Trailer was launched in March of this year: an app that uses sensors to keep a constant eye on your caravan when on the road. The app monitors factors including tyre pressure, brake temperature and whether the vehicle is level - quite handy to avoid tipping over. The size of the package depends upon how much you are willing to pay. The standard package costs about €120, and new (paid) modules are being added all the time. "SMART-Trailer is actually part of a three-stage rocket", Lenssen explains. "The app is part of the E-Trailer (an electric caravan), which features E-Brake, an ingenious caravan braking system. We originally wanted to immediately start developing the electric caravan, but the Netherlands Vehicle Authority put paid to that idea. You see, our technology was not covered by any legislation for vehicles. We could not just let it loose on the roads." It would take forever to wait for the legislation, so the pair decided to split their invention into three sub-products. "This allowed us to maintain the cash flow, and we have expanded from five members of staff in 2015 to 25 employees now. We're not making a fortune yet, but we are earning more than the student grant." Incidentally, this is partly thanks to the Climate-KIC Label that they were awarded due to the sustainable nature of their E-Trailer. With its own electric drive and braking system, it can easily be towed by a small, light car.