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Electra powers up the German HPC market

With strategic partnerships with customers from the hotel, retail, real estate, and fleet management sectors, the French provider aims to expand and drive e-mobility in Europe. The plan includes 500 fast-charging stations with more than 3,000 charging points in Germany by 2030. Funding round of 304 million euros.

It's all about the software: Electra prides itself on a proprietary solution and aims to score points with features such as charging slot reservation or special business rates. | Photo: Electra
It's all about the software: Electra prides itself on a proprietary solution and aims to score points with features such as charging slot reservation or special business rates. | Photo: Electra
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The French fast-charging network operator Electra has secured financing of 304 million euros and now plans to make a breakthrough in Germany. The company sees itself as one of the leading European fast-charging networks for electric vehicles and aims to establish 500 fast-charging stations with more than 3,000 charging points in Germany by 2030. Kerstin Schmidt will be responsible for operational and strategic business in Germany as Managing Director based in Munich. She has been active in the technology sector for 20 years in the fields of sales and management, most recently among others at BayWa r.e. renewable energy as Managing Director and at Wallbox Chargers as Regional Manager DACH. She has also worked for REC and Siemens.

"We provide comprehensive, intuitive, and adaptable mobile interfaces so that our partners' parking lots become truly practical service areas for visitors – for example, for clients in the hotel, mass retail, real estate, and fleet operator sectors. Therefore, we focus primarily on locations with above-average foot traffic in urban and suburban areas, not necessarily motorway service areas and not in competition with AC charging networks of local utilities and competitors," outlines Schmidt.

Germany is a strategically important core market for European expansion. Initial locations are already being developed. The new financing round is being led by the Dutch pension fund service provider PGGM. Within three years, around 600 million euros in capital have been raised to build one of the first European charging networks, according to the provider. Since its founding, over 170 stations with over 1,000 charging points have been established. The goal is to build 2,200 stations with 15,000 charging points across Europe by 2030. The provider expects a significant increase in the number of electric vehicles in Europe due to the ban on the sale of new combustion engine vehicles from 2035. To keep up, the charging infrastructure needs to be rapidly expanded, and the French expect almost 30 million electric vehicles on Europe's roads by 2030.

Numerous existing partnerships as a foundation

“PGGM Infrastructure Funds” is one of the largest European asset managers. Additionally, existing investors such as Eurazeo, Rive Private Investment, the SNCF Group through “574 Invest,” and Serena have renewed their investments. Bpifrance is also participating in the funding round through its Large Venture Fund. Moreover, the company benefits from the financial support of leading public and private investors such as Energy Infrastructure Partners AG (EIP) in Switzerland and Austria, as well as RATP Capital Innovation, Banque des Territoires, Ademe, Eiffel Investment Group, RGreen Invest, Frst, and the Chopard Group in France. The company has also entered into numerous strategic partnerships with recognized actors, including VINCI Autoroutes, Stellantis, Altarea, AccorInvest, Louvre Hotels Group, the Delhaize Group, Toulouse Blagnac Airport, G7, Bolt, Europcar, Sixt, Honda, MG, InVivo, the Chopard Group, and Hertz.

Proprietary Software as a Core Element

In a highly competitive environment, the company sees its strengths in proprietary technology, where software is the key to the smooth operation of charging stations. Already today, it claims to offer the best-rated charging network by users. Additionally, as a "Pure-Player" actor, it can fully focus on fast charging. Similar to some manufacturers who have taken the lead in vehicles, the specialized structure enables innovations and faster actions, the provider believes.

The company is experiencing rapid and sustainable growth and is already present in eight countries: France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, and Spain. Currently, it registers a charging volume of nearly 100,000 charging sessions per month at its stations. The charging stations are mainly located in urban areas on parking lots of supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, or public parking lots. Recently, the first charging station at an airport (Toulouse Blagnac) and several stations at highway rest stops were opened. According to its own statements, it was the first company to introduce the reservation of charging stations. It also sees itself as a preferred partner for commercial e-mobility users such as suppliers or taxis, for whom it offers special services and tariffs.

Translated automatically from German.
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