E.ON has announced a new strategic focus on e-mobility, establishing a new business unit aiming to take a leading role in the European charging infrastructure market.
The company already offers a range of wallbox solutions for businesses and homeowners and will now extend its efforts to securing locations for charging stations where it can install charging technology.
It will also offer “customer tailor-made products”, including the option of charging with renewable energy or pricing plans including flat rates.
Karsten Wildberger, a member of the E.ON management board, said: “We firmly believe in the future of e-mobility and the related potential for growth. By virtue of our core strengths and experiences we are in an excellent position to succeed in the growing field of e-mobility. We aim to making e-mobility as convenient as possible for our customers.”
The utility says it will join with “strong partners” for its new offering, adding that discussions and tests are already underway.
The announcement follows a similar decision by German energy company innogy to launch a new business unit to bring together all of its eMobility activities in Europe and the US.
E-mobility is set to become a growing market in Europe, with a joint partnership between major carmakers such as BMW, Daimler, Ford and Volkswagen announced last month which will roll-out fast-charging stations from 2017.
Initially, the venture has identified 400 sites in Europe, with the ultimate aim of delivering as many as “thousands” of charge points by 2020.
The European Commission’s recent Winter Package included instructions for member states to include at least one charging point for every ten parking spaces at all new non-residential buildings and in all existing non-residential buildings undergoing major renovation.
In addition, pre-cabling will need to be ensured at newly built residential buildings and those undergoing major renovations to enable the installation of recharging points for electric vehicles for every parking space in the future.
