Electric vehicle charging software and hardware specialist POD Point has announced its expansion into Scandinavian territories through a series of strategic partnerships with energy and electricity supply companies and automotive manufacturers.
Partnerships with utility company Nord-Trondelag Elektrisitetsverk AS (NTE), electrical supply company Proxll AS, and Nissan dealerships across the Nordic countries, mean POD Point is now supplying hardware and software to Europe’s most advanced electric vehicle markets – Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
POD Point’s partnership with NTE includes Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) software, which connects charging stations and central systems from different vendors.
POD Point CEO Erik Fairbairn: “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”.
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 which highlighted the diversity of EV charging markets in Europe. The report also pointed towards the need for back office systems to simplify billing for EV charging services and provide a user-friendly interface for EV drivers.
The company is expecting strong sales growth as the recommended charge point supplier for Toyota Europe which is launching the Prius Plug-in Hybrid in multiple European countries later this year.