Israeli start-up Voltify, which develops technology to convert diesel trains to electric use, has completed a $30 million seed funding round. The round was led by Aleph and the mining company Fortescue, with participation from Menomadin, the fund of entrepreneur Haim Tayeb, as well as the funds Jimpact and The Dock, alongside additional private investors.
The company, founded in 2024 by Dafna Langer and Alon Kessel, operates in a sector considered one of the largest consumers of energy in the logistics world. In the United States alone, the six largest rail operators collectively spend about $11 billion annually on diesel, a figure that highlights the economic potential of alternative solutions.
Voltify offers a system designed to enable the transition to electricity without the need for investment in expensive traditional infrastructure, such as overhead power lines along rail tracks. According to the company, its solution combines battery-powered locomotives, a dynamic charging system during travel, and a network of microgrids that locally generate and store energy using renewable sources.
Unlike existing models of electric trains, which require stopping for charging or maintaining a constant connection to the power grid, Voltify’s technology is based on charging while the train is in motion. According to the company, this allows for operational continuity, reduces downtime, and decreases dependence on the central power grid and on fluctuations in energy prices.
Alongside developing its technology, the company has already signed a paid pilot agreement with one of the world’s largest railway companies, with deployment expected to begin soon. In addition, Voltify notes a growing backlog of orders from regional operators in the United States, and that within the coming year it plans to launch its first full-scale system, including a locomotive, charging array, and energy supply network.
Beyond economic considerations, the company is also setting an environmental goal. According to its estimates, the company estimates it can reduce more than 50 million tons of carbon emissions annually from rail activity alone within less than a decade. This will be achieved, among other means, through the use of solar-based microgrids and energy storage systems, which reduce reliance on polluting power plants.
Dafna Langer, co-founder and CEO of Voltify, said: “We founded the company to solve one of the railway industry’s biggest challenges - coping with energy costs. Our platform enables railway companies to transition to clean, affordable energy without changing how they operate. Even a 5% reduction in energy costs is highly significant, while a reduction of more than 20% completely changes the rules of the game.”
“Voltify is redefining the energy supply chain for global railway networks,” said Tomer Diari, partner at Aleph. “The company’s electric solution will help rail operators dramatically reduce costs, pollution, and dependence on diesel, making freight transportation in the U.S. cheaper and more reliable.”