Portuguese battery-swap startup Pollen named one of TIME's best inventions of 2026

Pollen, a Lisbon-based company, has been included in TIME's Best Inventions list for 2026. It has built a universal swappable battery and a network of automated stations for electric motorbikes and scooters, aiming to remove the cost and charging time that keep most two-wheelers petrol-powered. Riders stop at a station, exchange a depleted battery for a charged one in seconds and carry on. The company says one battery fits several brands and models. Operating in Lisbon since March, it has completed more than 25,000 swaps and has raised €3.2 million in pre-seed funding.