Making Sports Activities Accessible – with the right choice of batteries.
The summer of 2020 was one of the warmest in Swedish history. It also marked the beginning of an exciting chapter for Piffl, a Swedish company focused on making sports and activities more accessible to the public without requiring them to own equipment. Four years later, Piffl is now available in over 50 municipalities across Sweden, continuing its mission to bring spontaneous play to everyone. “Most existing sports require people to plan ahead and bring all the necessary equipment. But we believe it should be easier to engage in outdoor activities without so much planning. That’s what inspired us to develop Piffl,” says Andreas Sundgren, Creative Director at Piffl.
A Sharing Platform for Outdoor Games
Sports like volleyball, kubb, tennis, basketball, and soccer all require equipment, and the founders of Piffl recognized that many people can’t participate if they don’t have the right gear. By downloading the Piffl app to your mobile device, users can unlock one of Piffl’s pink boxes, filled with outdoor games, and exercise equipment. “During 2023, over 38,900 people engaged in different activities using Piffl. At the end of this year, (2024) the engagement rate will land around 100 000 people with over 150 active boxes. Our mission is to spread the joy of movement, community, and spontaneous sports to visitors and residents in various areas,” Andreas continues.
Changing Habits with Accessibility
Even in its early stages, when only a few boxes were available for public use, Piffl received enthusiastic feedback from different communities. “The response has been fantastic! Users frequently share their thoughts in the app, thanking us for making it easier to engage their children in activities, and tourists appreciate the chance to stay active during their visits to Sweden. Our goal is for Piffl to become synonymous with spontaneous play and widely available across activity areas in Sweden, the Nordics, and Europe. Changing habits and behaviors takes time, but we’re committed to making sports and games more accessible in the long run,” Andreas concludes.
Battery Solution for Piffl
Initially, Piffl’s pink boxes were powered by lead-acid batteries purchased in small batches from various retailers. Unfortunately, the performance was inconsistent due to differences in quality and lifespan between suppliers. This led Piffl to seek a more reliable, customized solution, resulting in a partnership with Sparq. “What’s really valuable for us at Piffl is Sparq’s technical expertise and their ability to provide a solution tailored to our needs. Since installing the Sparq batteries in the spring, we haven’t had any issues with the performance of our boxes,” Andreas shares.
Lithium-Ion Batteries from Sparq
Sparq Technology, a part of the CEBON Group, has over 35 years of experience in the battery industry. We specialize in lithium-ion batteries because of their extended lifespan, efficiency, and reliability in complex applications. From individual cells to complete energy systems, our goal is to find solutions that lead to our clients’ success. Each project is led by a dedicated team of engineers, ensuring a better understanding of individual requirements.
