Drev bags €2.7m to tackle toxic dust in battery factories: 'We have to solve this problem'

Swedish startup Drev has raised fresh funding to scale its technology which intercepts metallic dust generated in battery gigafactories and captures it for reuse.

Founder Arelys Sosa came up with the idea while working at Panasonic’s battery facility in Nevada, US. After moving to Sweden, she realised that local factories faced the same issue.

“I felt that this was a problem we simply had to solve,” she previously told Impact Loop Sweden.

Battery production creates so-called black dust – microscopic metal particles that are both hazardous to workers’ health and contain precious materials that can be recovered.

Together with co-founder and CTO Thomas Tingelöf, Sosa has developed a dry-brushing technology that allows battery manufacturers to clean and maintain their facilities without using water or aggressive chemicals.

Drev has now secured €2.7m in a funding round led by Butterfly Ventures and Almi Invest Greentech. Other backers include SEB’s Development Foundation and US-based Battle Born Venture.

“This round marks a crucial milestone for Drev,” said Sosa in a statement. “It’s a testament to the hard work and passion of our team, and to the invaluable guidance from our board and advisers who have supported us every step of the way. Together, we’re laying the foundations for a safer, more circular battery industry.”

According to the company, the system has already been tested in a leading gigafactory, where it improved air quality, reduced slip risks, and recovered materials that would otherwise have been lost.

“At Almi Invest Greentech, we look for technologies that solve real industrial problems while generating systemic environmental benefits,” said Jonas Bergqvist, investment manager at Almi Invest Greentech. “Drev represents exactly the kind of industrial innovation we want to scale.”

With the new funding, Drev plans to expand its product development and engineering teams and establish a production facility in Gothenburg. The company also intends to roll out its technology to gigafactories and recycling plants across Europe and North America.

Drev has previously received support from Unconventional Ventures, EIT Manufacturing, the Norrsken Accelerator, and private investors.