Link to interview: Kan English Podcast – CaPow’s Power Revolution
When Prof. Mor Peretz, CEO and co-founder of CaPow, joined the Kan English podcast, he didn’t just share the story of a rising Israeli startup—he offered a glimpse into the future of industrial automation. In a 10-minute conversation hosted by Kan’s Miryam Golan, Peretz explained how CaPow’s ‘Power-in-Motion’ innovation is reshaping the robotics industry and why it all started in a university lab in Be’er Sheva.
Key Highlights:
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Eliminating Downtime
CaPow’s technology enables autonomous robots to receive energy continuously while moving, removing the need for charging docks. The result? Fleets that run 100% of the time, with no need to overspend on additional robots just to cover downtime. -
Goodbye Batteries, Hello Supercapacitors
With CaPow, operators can extend the life of existing lithium-ion batteries threefold- or eliminate them altogether using CaPow’s proprietary power pack, based on supercapacitor technology. -
Seamless Integration
CaPow’s solution is designed for fast deployment, with zero interruption to operations. It’s robot-agnostic, battery-flexible, and doesn’t require robots to stop or align precisely to receive power. -
Backed by Industry Giants
Toyota Ventures led CaPow’s Series A funding round, with ongoing projects involving Hyundai and other global leaders in automation. -
Born in the Negev, Built for the World
CaPow was spun out of Ben-Gurion University by Peretz and his former PhD students. Staying in Be’er Sheva was a deliberate choice, tied to a vision of building tech excellence beyond Israel’s center.
Full Transcript
Miryam Golan: You’re listening to the Kan podcast. We are speaking with Professor Mor Peretz, CEO and founder of CaPow. Thank you for joining us. Tell us a bit about what CaPow does.
Mor Peretz: Thank you. So, CaPow is a word game for capacitive power. Our technology is a unique wireless energy transfer solution tailored for autonomous applications in manufacturing, logistics, and commerce.
The problem today in these environments is that robots are required to stop and charge frequently. Typically, you get a three-to-one or five-to-one work-to-charge ratio- meaning you need 130 robots just to compensate for the downtime of 100 working robots.
CaPow’s solution enables power in motion- and more specifically, power en route- so robots never have to deviate from their productive paths. This means 100% of the fleet can work 100% of the time.
These robots are usually powered by lithium-ion batteries, which come with safety, shipping, storing, and recycling headaches. CaPow gives customers the option to either extend battery life by 3x, reduce battery size, or eliminate it altogether by using our supercapacitor-based power pack.
So when robots drive near a CaPow-powered zone, they take what we call “a sip of energy” that sustains them until their next cycle.
Golan: So the batteries are installed on the robots, but they receive charge remotely, correct?
Peretz: Yes. Our deployment is in two parts: a stationary transmitting area placed strategically along the route, and an onboard receiver that converts energy from the ground pod into usable power for the robot.
Golan: This really boosts efficiency since fewer robots are needed and they run continuously, right?
Peretz: Exactly. We define this as operational efficiency. And with CaPow, it increases considerably.
Golan: How common is this kind of approach? Or are you breaking new ground?
Peretz: There are other energy transfer solutions out there, but CaPow is the only one offering true power-in-motion—meaning robots don’t need to align precisely or return to specific stations. And our system is headache-free to integrate. It’s plug-and-play, with no operational downtime for installation.
Golan: You’ve also had strong backing from major investors.
Peretz: Yes, we’re proud that Toyota Ventures led our Series A round. We’re also working with many industry leaders. Hyundai, for example, ran successful pilots and is now moving toward full integration.
Golan: Can this apply to other sectors, like EVs?
Peretz: Yes, definitely. Like how Amazon started with books, we began with small-to-medium robots. But the long-term vision includes defined-route vehicles like autonomous shuttles and more.
Golan: Tell us about your own path to tech. It wasn’t direct.
Peretz: I grew up in Be’er Sheva and was into sports—mainly basketball. After an army injury, I turned to academia. I became a full professor at Ben-Gurion University, focusing on energy and electronics.
CaPow started in our lab with two of my PhD students—Eli Abramov and Alon Seville- who are now co-founders. Our lab has always been about applied innovation, working closely with industry.
Golan: And the decision to stay in Be’er Sheva?
Peretz: Absolutely. We believe in David Ben-Gurion’s vision of the Negev. Excellence shouldn’t be limited to central Israel. From outside the country, Tel Aviv and Be’er Sheva are just 60 miles apart- but inside, we know the difference. That’s changing, and we’re proud to be part of that transformation.
Golan: Thank you so much for speaking with us.
Peretz: Thank you. It was a pleasure.
