What begins as a graduation project can grow into a company at the heart of the energy transition. That is what happened to Melvin Venema. During his Engineering studies at the Rijn IJssel vocational training center (MBO), he became fascinated by charging technology. Today, he leads Venema E-Mobility Charge Systems (VECS), a fast-growing company from Arnhem where technology, talent development, and sustainable innovation come together.

For his graduation internship in 2017, Venema was given the opportunity to work with the municipality of Arnhem on an innovative project: a smart charging solution enabling electric taxis to fast-charge via the existing trolleybus network. The assignment proved to be a turning point. “Charging station technology never let go of me,” Venema recalls.

He founded VECS, where sixteen engineers now work on charging and battery systems for electric transport and mobile applications. The company actively contributes to the energy transition within the Lifeport Region Arnhem Nijmegen and beyond. “We don’t just want to develop technology; we also want to pass on knowledge,” says Venema. “What you learn young stays with you.”

Learning and working in the energy transition

VECS is a certified training company and offers internships for MBO and HBO students, including in Mechatronics and Electrical Engineering. Internships often lead to permanent jobs. “We grow by a few positions every year,” Venema says.

According to internship coordinator Wilfred Seesink of Rijn IJssel, VECS is an exemplary company in the region. “Our students encounter technologies here that are rapidly evolving. These are exactly the kinds of companies making the energy transition possible.”

Rooted in Arnhem-North

The company is located near Cleantech Park Arnhem, where Connectr, the energy innovation center, and HAN University of Applied Sciences are also based. “We work closely with knowledge institutions such as Rijn IJssel and HAN,” says Venema. “Connectr is the beating heart that connects partners. That’s why we want to remain here in Arnhem-North, even when we move to a larger building.”

From student to service technician

One former intern is Senna Hietbrink (21). During his Mechatronics graduation internship at VECS, he developed the so-called uni-charger: a compact charging station for testing systems. “I had to select the right components myself and could always rely on colleagues with specific expertise,” he says.

Hietbrink now works as a service technician at VECS. “When there are malfunctions, you really dive into the system. It’s educational, and I travel across the country. You work with cars, energy storage, and charging systems all at once, that makes it interesting.”

Working together on emission-free construction

The strength of the Lifeport Region Arnhem Nijmegen lies in collaboration between companies, education, and government. This is also evident in a recent pilot project in the Olympuskwartier district in Arnhem-South, where VECS worked with the municipality of Arnhem on emission-free construction.

“For this project, we developed a 120 kW charging station that allows construction machines to charge overnight via the trolley network,” Venema explains. VECS had previously worked on charging electric taxis through the BrengFlex network. “Technically, a lot is possible, but there are legal hurdles. We develop the technology; the municipality and transport operator Transdev arrange the framework conditions.”

An important result is the DC-DC safety box developed by VECS, which can be mounted on a trolley pole. The box contains safety features and a MID-certified meter that accurately records how much electricity is used. “That way, costs can be charged fairly.”

Looking toward tram and metro

Although Arnhem is the only Dutch city with a trolleybus network, Venema also sees opportunities with tram and metro lines. “The technology is different, but the potential is large.” VECS is discussing this with the municipality of The Hague, which together with HTM is starting a pilot to supply public charging stations with power from tram lines.

Training for practical work

Technology and sustainability are key priorities at Rijn IJssel. “We align our programs with the needs of companies in the region,” says Seesink. “Internships at companies like VECS give students experience with mobile energy systems, large battery packs, and green technology.”

Merijn Wagner (22), a fourth-year Mechatronics student, experiences this firsthand. He is doing his graduation internship at VECS and also works there as a holiday employee. “This is an industry where you really contribute to the energy transition. You see many different electrical engineering designs here.”

First job at the internship company

According to internship supervisor Ries Groeneveld, opportunities for technical students are abundant. “About 80 percent of our third- and fourth-year students find their first job at their internship company. Companies are eager for skilled professionals.”

For Wagner, VECS feels like the right place. “The atmosphere is good, many young people work here, and you learn something new every day.”

Text: Francien van Zetten