KASI Technologies AB: Advancing Hybrid Propulsion for European Strategic Autonomy

KASI Technologies AB is a Swedish deep-tech venture transforming how vehicles are electrified, with implications far beyond cutting fleet emissions. Founded in 2007 by engineers from Sweden’s automotive heartland, this small company developed a patented retrofit hybrid system that can convert almost any conventional car or truck into an electric hybrid[1]. In doing so, KASI addresses a pressing challenge for Europe’s future mobility: how to rapidly reduce emissions and fuel consumption across existing vehicle fleets without waiting decades for full fleet replacement. The company’s novel New Electrified Supercharging System (NESS) recovers energy from both exhaust gases and braking in one compact module[2], delivering up to 20% fuel savings per vehicle[3]. Such innovation is not only about climate targets – it carries strategic weight. By slashing fuel needs and extending vehicle range, KASI’s technology bolsters logistical resilience for European armed forces and peacekeeping missions. It also reduces reliance on oil and imported electric vehicles, reinforcing Europe’s strategic autonomy in both energy and critical green technologies. KASI’s journey from an idea nurtured in a provincial Swedish workshop to recognition by NATO’s innovation accelerator is a testament to how niche engineering solutions can contribute to grand strategic goals. The following analysis delves into KASI Technologies’ profile and evaluates its contributions to European defense-technological priorities, deterrence capabilities, and the reduction of strategic dependencies on non-allied suppliers.