Fuelrod
FuelRods are the first reusable, portable charging system that allows you to fuel (charge) your mobile device on the go.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersDel Mar, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Fuelrod does
FuelRods are the first reusable, portable charging system that allows you to fuel (charge) your mobile device on the go, and then recharge or swap for a fresh one.
Fuelrod firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fuelrod
- Legal name
- Tricopian, Inc.
- Website
- http://www.fuel-rod.com/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- FuelRods are the first reusable, portable charging system that allows you to fuel (charge) your mobile device on the go.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fuelrod industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Portable Charging Solutions
- SIC
- Electric Housewares & Fans (3634)
- akta.pro primary industry
- E-Mobility Batteries & Swappable Packs (Consumer) (CRACASAI)
Keywords
Where Fuelrod is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Del Mar
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Fuelrod business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales (Portable Chargers): Sale of FuelRod Kits, MAX10, and Starter Kits through kiosks, e-commerce website, Amazon, and Buy with Prime. One-time hardware purchase with reusable device.
- Swap Fees: Transaction fees charged at kiosks for swapping depleted units for fully charged ones. Standard FuelRod swap: $1-$3; MAX10 swap: $2-$4, depending on venue. Complimentary swaps available at select locations.
- FuelRod Club Membership: Annual subscription at $19.99/year providing 25% off products, up to 30% off bundles, free shipping, and 25 swap credits via mobile app.
- Trade-In Program: $10 trade-in credit for returning original FuelRods toward purchase of NEW FuelRod Kit, creating upgrade revenue and customer retention.
- Affiliate/Referral Program: Commission-based program for content creators and brand advocates with 1,000+ followers, earning commissions from Amazon store purchases.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | USB-C FuelRod Kit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | FuelRod MAX10 Kit (10,000mAh) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | FuelRod Starter Kit Bundle |
| Subscription | Annual | FuelRod Club Membership |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Swap Fees |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Trade-In Program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Fuelrod product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FuelRod designs, manufactures, and operates a nationwide network of self-serve kiosks that dispense and accept swappable, reusable portable power banks. Consumers buy a FuelRod Kit or MAX10 charger and then exchange depleted units for fully charged ones at any of 500+ kiosks located across U.S. airports, theme parks, museums, and entertainment venues for a per-swap fee. The offering is completed by an annual membership program, accessories (cables, wall chargers), and a consumer mobile app that handles kiosk location, swap credits, and contactless checkout.
Product overview
FuelRod operates a swappable portable power network centered on two core portable charger products — the compact NEW FuelRod USB-C Kit (3200 mAh, swappable at all kiosk generations) and the high-capacity FuelRod MAX10 (10,000 mAh, wireless/MagSafe charging, Gen. 2 kiosks only) — available individually or bundled in the limited-time Starter Kit. The service is monetized through kiosk purchase/swap fees and a FuelRod Club Membership ($19.99/year) offering 25% discounts and swap credits. The network spans 500+ kiosks across 50+ U.S. airports, theme parks, museums, and entertainment venues, accessible via a consumer mobile app (iOS/Android) with $5 sign-up credit. Accessories include USB-C/Lightning cables, wall chargers, and travel organizer bags. New Gen. 2 kiosks accept Apple Pay and Google Pay contactless payments. The company celebrated 10 years in business with 3M+ customers and 8M+ cumulative swaps.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- NEW FuelRod USB-C Kit Compact 3,200 mAh swappable portable charger with USB-C input/output, power button, 4-LED battery indicator, and adapters for iOS/Android devices, targeted at travelers and everyday mobile users.
- FuelRod MAX10 High-capacity 10,000 mAh swappable portable charger with Qi/MagSafe wireless charging and dual USB-C ports, aimed at power users and multi-device travelers who need approximately 3x more power than the standard Kit.
- FuelRod Starter Kit Bundled offering of one USB-C FuelRod Kit plus one FuelRod MAX10 with cables and adapters in a recyclable box, intended for travelers and gift buyers who want both a compact everyday charger and a high-capacity option.
- FuelRod Club Membership Annual membership program ($19.99/year) granting 25% off retail products, up to 30% off bundles, free shipping, and 25 swap credits redeemable in the FuelRod app.
- FuelRod Swappable Power Network (Gen. 2 Kiosks) Network of self-serve kiosks at airports, theme parks, museums, resorts, and entertainment venues that dispense, accept, and recharge swappable FuelRod power banks, supporting both one-time purchases and per-swap transactions.
- FuelRod Mobile App Consumer mobile application (iOS/Android) for locating FuelRod kiosks, executing touch-free purchases and swaps, managing swap credits, and accessing customer support, with $5 sign-up credit and $1 in-app purchase credit.
- FuelRod USB-C Cables and Adapters Replacement and supplemental charging cables and adapters, including USB-C to USB-C, USB-A to USB-C, USB-C to Lightning, a 6-cable kit, and adapters for USB-A, Micro-USB, and Lightning devices.
- FuelRod Wall Chargers Standalone USB wall chargers including a 20W USB-C single-port model and a 65W 3-port model for simultaneous charging of multiple devices at home or during travel.
- FuelRod Mini USB-C Fans Portable USB-C powered cooling fans sold individually or bundled with the FuelRod USB-C Kit for summer and outdoor use.
- FuelRod Organizer Bags Small and medium travel organizer bags sized to store and protect FuelRod power banks, cables, and adapters during travel.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3M+ customers served over 10 years
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Fuelrod
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Fuelrod technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature4 records
Fuelrod partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Knott's Berry FarmcorePartnership to provide next-generation Gen. 2 portable power network with USB-C and wireless charging features. Marked as step in FuelRod's nationwide expansion across high-traffic venues. Enhances guest experience at the theme park.
- USS Midway MuseumcoreNew kiosk installations at USS Midway Museum, one of Southern California's most visited destinations welcoming millions of guests annually. Provides Gen. 2 charging solutions including USB-C Kit and MAX10 portable chargers.
- Balboa ParkcoreNew charging kiosks at Balboa Park, one of Southern California's most visited tourist attractions. Expanded swappable power network offering USB-C FuelRod Kit with 20% more power and FuelRod MAX10 with wireless charging.
- AAAE (American Association of Airport Executives)minorSponsor of FuelRod Recharge Lounge at 98th Annual AAAE Conference in Los Angeles. Connected with airport leaders, operators, and travel innovators to showcase swappable power solutions for airports.
- Cleveland CliniccoreField service operations at Cleveland Clinic locations in Florida (South Florida's Treasure Coast & Broward County) and Ohio (Greater Cleveland area) for kiosk installation, repairs, maintenance, and inventory management.
- Six Flags Magic Mountain & Universal Studios HollywoodcoreField service agent positions for kiosk servicing and installation at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Universal Studios Hollywood theme parks. Includes restocking, troubleshooting, repairs, and maintenance.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Fuelrod competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fuelrod social profiles
Digital presenceFuelrod financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fuelrod leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Fuelrod funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fuelrod M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fuelrod
What does Fuelrod do?
FuelRod designs, manufactures, and operates a nationwide network of self-serve kiosks that dispense and accept swappable, reusable portable power banks. Consumers buy a FuelRod Kit or MAX10 charger and then exchange depleted units for fully charged ones at any of 500+ kiosks located across U.S. airports, theme parks, museums, and entertainment venues for a per-swap fee. The offering is completed by an annual membership program, accessories (cables, wall chargers), and a consumer mobile app that handles kiosk location, swap credits, and contactless checkout.
Is Fuelrod a public or private company?
Fuelrod is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Fuelrod founded?
Fuelrod was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Fuelrod based?
Fuelrod is headquartered in Del Mar, United States, in the North America region.
How does Fuelrod make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales (Portable Chargers) is the primary driver. The others are swap Fees, fuelRod Club Membership, trade-In Program and affiliate/Referral Program.
Does Fuelrod have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fuelrod.
What industry is Fuelrod in?
Fuelrod's product category is Portable Charging Solutions. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACASAI, E-Mobility Batteries & Swappable Packs (Consumer). Its SIC code is 3634.