Volkswagen AG and its charging and energy brand Elli have reached their next milestone: With 400,000 charging points, Elli is now operating the largest charging network in Europe, with more than 800 providers in 27 countries.
Over the past 18 months, the network has doubled in size by adding about 200,000 new charging points. Elli most recently expanded its network in western and northern Europe by adding the Swedish energy company Vattenfall and the Dutch fast-charging specialist Fastned.
Quick and easy to use and, above all, available throughout Europe: The charging network of the Volkswagen subsidiary Elli is expanding. In the process, the company has entered into a large number of alliances and partnerships, including ones with such energy suppliers as Enel and Iberdrola, the petroleum group BP and the joint venture IONITY. The aim of this work is quite simple: to provide drivers of electric vehicles with a tightly knit international charging network which is easily accessible. About 800 providers are currently integrated.
Most recently, Elli added about 24,000 Vattenfall stations in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden along with 1,000 high-power charging points (HPC) operated by Fastned in the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Belgium, France and Switzerland. A few months earlier, the network was massively expanded in Great Britain with the addition of 6,800 charging stations managed by BP Pulse.
“The key to everyday electric mobility is easy charging without any range anxiety,” said Elke Temme, the CEO of Elli and Senior Vice President of Charging & Energy at Volkswagen AG. “We have taken a huge step closer to our vision by offering 400,000 charging points in Europe. In line with our NEW AUTO strategy, we now offer the largest ecosystem for drivers of electric vehicles in Europe and are continuing to press full speed ahead in our work to expand the charging network.”
As a mobility service provider, Elli offers its services to the drivers of electric vehicles made by all manufacturers. Customers of Elli and those of the brands SEAT, CUPRA, ŠKODA AUTO and Volkswagen may use the network further on that. The charging service offered by AUDI will be integrated into the portfolio next year.
The Volkswagen Group has made charging and energy a part of its core business in its NEW AUTO strategy. With a workforce of some 250 employees, Elli takes care of the things that matter to customers at the touchpoints between energy and mobility. Elli is the Volkswagen Group brand that offers a wide portfolio of energy and charging solutions in Europe and also acts as a provider of mobile services. Its current range of products includes charging solutions for private customers and companies – from the customers’ own wall boxes and the mobile charging station Flexpole to charging services and innovative and smart green-power rates. Elli offers digital solutions and services designed to create seamless experiences at public charging stations. Electric vehicles can be easily charged with the help of an app and a charging map. Three transparent charging rates are offered: “Drive Free”, “Drive City” and “Drive Highway”. The rates are geared towards drivers who need to charge their vehicles rarely, frequently or quickly. Elli was founded in 2018 and has offices in Berlin, Wolfsburg and Munich.
