A single ultra-class mining truck can weigh more than a fully loaded Airbus A380 and burn roughly 2,500 liters of diesel each day. For years, electrifying these giants seemed out of reach, not because batteries lacked capacity, but because no system could recharge them fast enough to keep operations moving.
Marc-André Beck, CEO and Founder of Grivix, set out to change that. His company has developed a ruggedized megawatt charging system (MCS) already operating at customer sites and powering large electric mining trucks, with the longer-term goal of enabling ultra-class fleets and other heavy machines to run around the clock with minimal downtime.
“Our system charges at six megawatts of power. In terms of usable energy transfer, that’s about twice as fast as filling a car at a standard gasoline pump, more than 18 times faster than the latest Tesla supercharger,” Beck said. “That’s roughly the energy demand of a small town.”
Built to withstand dust, vibration, and the relentless pace of mine sites, Grivix’s system combines a cooled cable and ultra-durable connector, with an autonomous robotic arm soon to follow. But its significance goes beyond mining. By proving that even the biggest machines on earth can be charged at scale, Grivix is pointing to a future where heavy-duty transport, from trucks to ports to logistics hubs, can run clean, fast, and fossil-free.
Why mining was the proving ground
For Beck, mining was the obvious place to start. The sector accounts for around 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, increasing up to 4–7% when mineral processing is involved, making it one of the largest industrial contributors worldwide, and faces mounting pressure from governments, regulators, and investors to decarbonize. According to industry estimates, large mining haul trucks collectively burn around 25 billion liters of diesel each year, releasing about 69 million tons of CO₂ emissions.
“The economics are compelling,” Beck explained. “Mines already consume vast amounts of energy, and they operate within fixed boundaries. That makes it feasible to install megawatt charging infrastructure at scale.”
But his vision extends beyond mining. Beck sees a pathway to ports, logistics hubs, and eventually highway charging networks for long-haul freight. “If we can solve it for the toughest environment, we can solve it anywhere,” said Beck, who is working on a system with a similarly sized connector that can charge 10 times faster at 60 megawatts, roughly 6% the power of a standard nuclear power plant.
From vision to execution
Like many entrepreneurs, Beck is wary of the overused label “visionary.” He recalls hearing a line attributed to Helmut Schmidt: “If you’ve got a vision, go see a doctor.” At first, it struck him as arrogant, but it later resonated. “Everyone has visions. The real skill is allocating resources and executing on time. That’s very rare. That’s what I’ve tried to build with Grivix.”
This pragmatic outlook deepened during his Executive MBA at IMD, which he embarked on after founding Grivix. The program helped him refine his leadership style: “I don’t lead by task. I set the vision, strategy, and resources, then expect the team to deliver… IMD reinforced that you need to pause and diagnose problems before executing. That discipline shaped how we chose our focus and sequenced development.”
One lesson stood out: Ben Bryant’s ‘Flat Cube’ simulation, which forces executives to solve a problem under pressure. “Everybody jumped into execution and failed,” Beck recalled.
“The takeaway was simple: 90% of the solution is understanding the problem. That’s something I carry with me every day.”
Hardware in a software world
Building a company that operates hardware in an era dominated by software startups has not been easy. Investors often prefer ventures with quick scalability and lower capital requirements. “If all capital goes into websites, the future will just be full of websites,” Beck quipped, who now has six employees, including himself. “But to build megawatt charging systems and robotic infrastructure, you need serious engineering, manufacturing, and long-term commitment.”
The challenge of financing is compounded by slow-moving industrial clients. Contracts take time, pilots can drag on, and payments can lag. Resilience has been critical. “Even when we were running out of cash, I’ve always been able to go home and sleep. That ability to stay calm under stress, partly from my time in the army, has been invaluable.”
Building traction in tough terrain
Despite the hurdles, Grivix has moved quickly. The company has run successful demonstrations with ABB and Komatsu, two of the most respected names in electrification and heavy equipment. It has also secured its first commercial contracts and is preparing for large-scale trials in partnership with major mining companies.
The next step is growth. Grivix is looking for investors to help raise CHF 3.5m in 2025 to finance the rollout of its robotic charging system, with planned collaborations with several industry giants to be announced soon.
For Beck, the current fundraising round is about more than capital, it’s about building momentum to scale. Once validated in mining, he sees the technology expanding naturally to other heavy-duty applications, from ports and logistics hubs to long-haul freight corridors.
Leadership under pressure
Looking back, Beck credits IMD with giving him the confidence to scale both himself and his company. “You go in thinking you’ll be learning about business models or financial statements,” he said. “But what really stays with you is the self-reflection. Understanding how you lead, how you react under pressure, and how to create an environment where others can thrive.”
It’s a lesson he continues to apply daily at Grivix. “Middle management often becomes micromanagement,” he said. “What people need is clarity of direction and the resources to succeed. That’s how you move a company forward.”
For now, Beck is focused on securing investment and executing the next phase of trials. But the ambition is clear: to make megawatt-scale, autonomous charging not just a niche mining solution, but the foundation for electrifying heavy-duty transport worldwide.
“The future of mobility won’t be defined by cars alone,” he said. “It will be defined by whether we can decarbonize the vehicles that move the world’s goods and raw materials. That’s the challenge, and the opportunity, that drives us at Grivix.”
