Volkswagen has invested in digital electric charging point company Hubject, joining forces with six existing shareholders, including BMW and Daimler, to expand the digital electric charging network.
Hubject was launched in 2013 and connects 40,000 electric car-charging points on a digital platform that can be accessed via its smartphone app. The system enables users to locate charging stations and pay to use them; it also provides live availability information.
Volkswagen said the move is part of its push for “digital interconnection of charging stations for electric vehicles starting in early 2017”, while also helping to expand and internationalise the Hubject brand, which is currently focused on Europe. Hubject is also owned by Bosch, EnBW, Innogy and Siemens.
The move comes as part of a heavy realignment to Volkswagen’s budgets, which are being shifted to focus on the research and development of electric vehicles. The brand revealed its ID concept in September (pictured above), previewing its first purpose-built EV model that’s due in 2020; it has committed to producing a range of 30 EV models by 2025.
"We have set our sights on becoming a globally leading provider in the field of sustainable mobility,” said Thomas Sedran, Volkswagen’s head of group strategy. “With our investment in Hubject we are supporting the digital transformation and making an important contribution to the transition to the era of e-mobility.”
Thomas Daiber, CEO of Hubject, added "Charging must become more customer-friendly if electric cars are to make the breakthrough and catch on quicker. Together with our new shareholder we will be working at top speed to push forward with interconnecting the charging infrastructure."
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