Swedish deep tech startup Sinonus selects the first CEO to launch energy-storing carbon fiber composites.
Chalmers Ventures’ new portfolio company, Sinonus, a spinout from Chalmers Technical University, has hired ex-Maurten and SKF manager Markus Zetterström as its new CEO. The company’s unique carbon fiber material can store electrical energy, enabling energy storage in existing structures for a variety of industries, from E.V.s to airplanes.
Markus Zetterström has been appointed CEO of Sinonus, a spinout from Chalmers Technical UniversityTechnical University and KTH that is part of Chalmers Ventures’ portfolio. At Sinonus, Markus Zetterström will focus on commercializing the groundbreaking technology of carbon fibers that double as battery electrodes, which the company is currently developing.
Sinonus has already demonstrated the potential of its technology by replacing AAA batteries in low-power products in its lab. The goal is to expand the technology to larger applications such as IoT devices and eventually to drones, computers, larger vehicles, and airplanes.
Carbon fiber is a strong, light construction material that can store energy electrochemically. Sinonus uses this multi-functionality to make true carbon fiber-based structural batteries that store energy and become an integral part of the product’s structure. This patented innovation represents a significant step forward in streamlining batteries and their use.
The carbon fiber technology in Sinonus originates from Oxeon, another of Chalmers Venture’s portfolio companies. The carbon fiber was used in the propeller blades for NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter on Mars, chosen by the engineering team due to their ultralight weight and thinness.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Sinonus as CEO. The company’s innovative breakthrough in adding the dimension of electrical energy storage to carbon fiber has the potential to be truly transformative across a wide range of industries. I’m excited to work with the talented Sinonus team to unlock the full potential of this groundbreaking technology,” Markus Zetterström says.
For passenger aircraft to be powered by electricity, they need to be much lighter than they are today. Weight reduction is also very important for road vehicles, allowing them to extend the driving range per battery charge.