Greentech Lead Europe: POD Point, an electric vehicle
charging software and hardware specialist, announced a series of strategic
partnerships with utility company Nord-Trondelag Elektrisitetsverk AS
(NTE), electrical supply company Proxll AS, and Nissan dealerships across
the Nordic countries.
The partnerships with energy and electricity supply
companies and automotive manufacturers in the Scandinavian countries allow POD
Point to supply hardware and software to Europe’s most advanced
electric vehicle markets – Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
“Nordic countries were early and rapid adopters of
electric and hybrid vehicles, and these territories represent a huge opportunity
for companies who enter partnerships with energy companies and transport
infrastructure suppliers,” said Erik Fairbairn, CEO, POD
Point.
POD Point’s partnership with NTE includes Open Charge
Point Protocol (OCPP) software, which connects charging stations and central
systems from different vendors. OCPP platform is developed by E-Laad
in the Netherlands, is fast becoming the European industry standard.
Toyota is launching the plug-in Prius in multiple
European countries later this year. POD Point has been selected as the
recommended charge point supplier for Toyota and the company expects strong
sales growth with this partnership.
The revenue from electric vehicle charging equipment
sales in Europe is expected to reach $1.3 billion by 2020,
according to a recent report from Pike
Research. The report pointed towards the need for back office systems to
simplify billing for EV charging services and provide a user-friendly interface
for EV drivers.
“We are seeing strong growth from Europe.
Sales of our home charging products are increasing as new electric cars
and plug in hybrids are introduced, and our strong partnerships with car
manufacturers and energy companies will ensure our leadership position as
infrastructure is rolled out,” Fairbairn added.