EP TENDER · Project

On-Demand Range Extender Rental Service That Makes Electric Vehicles Road-Trip Ready

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Think about your phone — the battery lasts a day, but when you travel you grab a power bank. EP Tender does the same thing for electric cars. They built a portable energy module you can attach to your EV only when you need extra range for long trips, then return it. Instead of buying a bigger, heavier, more expensive EV for the 5% of the time you drive long distances, you just rent extra range on demand — like picking up a trailer at a rental station.

By the numbers

Preseries range extender units built and validated

Body and luggage rack kits produced

Ready-to-operate rental stations deployed

Client EVs served in the pilot

Additional preseries demo tenders tested

2000+

Electric vehicles operated by committed pilot participants

The business problem

What needed solving

Electric vehicle owners face a fundamental dilemma: buy a bigger, heavier, more expensive EV to handle occasional long trips, or accept limited range and miss out on road trips entirely. This range anxiety is one of the top barriers keeping consumers and fleet operators from switching to electric, slowing EV adoption across Europe.

The solution

What was built

EP Tender built 7 preseries range-extending trailer units (5 standard plus 2 demo), 9 body and luggage rack attachment kits, and deployed 5 fully operational rental stations serving 50 client electric vehicles in a real-world field test in France.

Audience

Who needs this

EV fleet operators needing full route flexibility without oversized batteriesCar-sharing and rental companies expanding into electric vehiclesEV manufacturers wanting to sell lighter, cheaper base modelsCharging network operators looking for complementary revenue streamsLast-mile delivery companies with occasional long-haul requirements

Business applications

Who can put this to work

EV Fleet Management

mid-size

Target: Fleet operators and car-sharing companies running electric vehicles

If you are a fleet operator dealing with range anxiety limiting your EV fleet utilization — this project developed a modular range extender rental service with 5 ready-to-operate rental stations tested with 50 client EVs. Instead of buying larger-battery vehicles for occasional long routes, your drivers rent a range extender on demand, cutting fleet costs while keeping full route flexibility.

Electric Vehicle Manufacturing

enterprise

Target: EV manufacturers looking to sell smaller, more affordable vehicles

If you are an EV manufacturer struggling with the trade-off between battery size and vehicle price — this project built and validated 5 preseries range-extending tender units plus 9 body and luggage rack kits. This lets you sell lighter, cheaper EVs to customers who know they can rent extra range when needed, expanding your addressable market to buyers currently choosing combustion engines.

EV Charging and Mobility Services

any

Target: Charging network operators and mobility service providers

If you are a mobility service provider looking for new revenue streams beyond charging stations — this project demonstrated 5 rental stations integrated with 50 client EVs in a real field test. Adding range extender rental to your network creates a complementary service for the over 2000 electric vehicles whose operators committed to participate in pilot testing.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would a range extender rental cost compared to buying a bigger EV battery?

The project data does not include specific rental pricing. However, the entire business model is built on the premise that renting occasional range is cheaper than permanently carrying a larger battery — the same logic as renting a trailer instead of always driving a truck. Pricing details would need to come directly from EP Tender.

Can this scale beyond the pilot — how many units were actually built?

The project delivered 5 preseries tested and validated tenders, 2 additional preseries demo tenders, and 9 body and luggage rack kits. They also set up 5 ready-to-operate rental stations serving 50 client EVs, demonstrating the rental logistics work at a small commercial scale.

What about IP and licensing — can other companies use this technology?

EP Tender is a single-company SME project, meaning the IP sits entirely with the French company EP Tender. Any licensing or partnership would need to be negotiated directly with them. The technology is proprietary to the coordinator.

Which EV brands is this compatible with?

The project objective mentions OEM support and field tests with participants operating well over 2000 electric vehicles, but does not name specific EV brands. Based on the deliverables showing body and luggage rack kits, the system appears designed for physical attachment to various vehicle types.

What markets were tested?

The field test was conducted in France, with plans mentioned for tests in Germany and China. The project had committed future potential clients participating in the pilot. The rental station infrastructure was validated with 5 operational stations.

Is this still active or just a research concept?

The project ran from 2015 to 2017 and is now closed. It went well beyond research — delivering preseries hardware and operational rental stations. Based on available project data, the company website (eptender.com) may have information about current commercial status.

Does this meet current EU vehicle regulations?

The project was funded under Horizon 2020 SME Instrument Phase 2, which focuses on market-close innovation. The preseries units were tested and validated, suggesting regulatory considerations were addressed during development. Specific certification details are not included in the project data.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project — EP Tender, a French SME, is the sole partner. That means all development, IP, and decision-making sit in one place, which simplifies any commercial negotiation. The 100% industry composition with no university or research institute involvement signals this was a market-driven effort, not academic research. The SME Instrument Phase 2 funding confirms the EU assessed this as close-to-market innovation. For a business partner, dealing with one SME means faster decisions but also means the technology's future depends entirely on that company's trajectory.

How to reach the team

EP Tender is a French SME. Contact details can be found via their website or through SciTransfer's coordinator lookup service.

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Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to EP Tender's team to discuss range extender rental integration for your EV fleet or network? Contact SciTransfer for a facilitated connection.

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