Juice awarded contract in Portugal's Mobi.E network - Model for Europe

The Swiss charging solutions provider Juice Technology AG has been awarded the contract to equip the electric mobility network Mobi.E with its stationary chargers. The network, aiming to rapidly expand the charging infrastructure in Portugal, is expected to contribute to achieving the national energy and climate plan 2030. The goal is to implement only one charging card for all charging station operators in Portugal. The various providers have joined under the umbrella company Mobi.E, S.A. The biggest advantage for users is that they can use their energy provider's card or app network-wide without any limitations on service quality. The prerequisite for this is charging stations that can be seamlessly integrated into the network. The electric mobility networks of many countries are highly segmented; usually, each charging station operator has its own private network with proprietary solutions, explain the Swiss, providing the background. Therefore, there is no incentive for charging station manufacturers to develop devices that can be easily integrated into any system.

“Island solutions do not advance electromobility. It is unacceptable from the charging network operators' side that one has to carry around five or ten different charging cards just to get electricity for their car. What is needed instead are universal offers that focus on the users. This insight has been successfully implemented in Portugal with Mobi.E. We are pleased to be part of this flagship project," says Christoph Erni, CEO and founder of Juice Technology AG.

Erni emphasizes the pioneering role of his technology company, for instance, with charging stations that were the first in 2019 to enable payment with a credit card or Apple Pay and Google Pay, or that can be activated via RFID or Plug and Charge. Charging must be simple and work reliably. With this concept, Erni sees himself aligned with the goals of Mobi.E. The Swiss, among other things, had passed a series of compatibility and integration tests with the JUICE CHARGER me and thus qualified.

Model Portugal, a role model for Europe?

Erni sees this as a model example for other countries in Europe. The Portuguese energy and climate plan 2030 envisages a 55 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for the mobility and transport sector. The Mobi.E concept contributes to driving the transition process towards sustainable mobility. It enables everyone to charge their vehicle at any charging station in the network, regardless of the operator or owner of the charging points – whether public or private.

“The Mobi.E network is close to covering the entire Portuguese territory. In the coming years, we will create additional prerequisites to expand our network at a high growth rate and connect it more closely with foreign networks," outlines Luís Barroso, CEO of Mobi.E.

Therefore, it is crucial to continue attracting the interest of companies that want to expand their activities in the field of electromobility in Portugal. The market entry of foreign companies like Juice also gives hope for the growth and internationalization of the Mobi.E network, Barroso continues. The network counts more than 2,485 charging stations nationwide, about three-quarters of them AC chargers, with a total of 5,100 charging points. Currently, the number of users stands at 58,500.