Volkswagen has founded subsidiary Elli Group GmbH, based in Berlin. The new unit will develop products and services related to energy and EV charging for its brands, said the carmaker yesterday.
“As one of the world’s largest automakers, Volkswagen is going to force the pace of the urgently needed transport and energy transition to emission-neutral e-mobility,” said Thomas Ulbrich, board member for e-mobility at VW.
The new unit is expected to contribute a renewables-based smart charging solution for electric cars. “This way, we are entering a strategically relevant, extremely exciting business area that offers considerable opportunities for strengthening ties with existing customers as well as accessing entirely new customer groups,” added Mr. Ulbrich.
VW – whose corporate reputation is still damaged because of its role in enabling its diesel models to cheat laboratory emissions tests in the U.S. and EU in 2015 – says it is aiming to become a leading provider of sustainable mobility.
Elli launch alongside the Volkswagen ID
Elli’s CEO, Thorsten Nicklaß, said customers would receive CO²-free electricity from renewable energy, adding: “Our mission is to take e-mobility out of its niche and to place it firmly in the mainstream.” Elli is expected to expand its portfolio gradually, Mr. Nicklaß added.
The market launch for Elli’s products is expected next year and is planned to coincide with the Volkswagen ID, the carmaker’s first model based on the modular electric toolkit, the company said. Thereafter, more new solutions will be brought to market.
VW highlighted six business areas in which Elli will be active. They range from charging stations for electric cars at home which use green electricity, to wallbox variants and intelligent energy management systems in combination with PV and home storage.
EV range will partner other solutions
The carmaker also intends its Volkswagen Naturstrom energy supply for households to come from renewable sources and be TÜV certified. For the wallboxes, the new company wants to offer an 11 kW AC version. In combination with the intelligent energy management and PV system and storage, Elli also wants to provide a 22 kW bidirectional charging station, which could provide network services and additional income.
The new unit also plans to increase the number of VW employee car park charging points from 1,000 to more than 5,000 by 2020. The 4,000 dealers and service partners of the car company in the EU will also be equipped with charging options for electric vehicles by the same deadline.
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For those who cannot wait for these products and services, you can already make sure that your electric vehicle is truly clean by charging it with electricity from renewable sources, as proven (in Europe) by Guarantees of Origin: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-all-electric-vehicles-ran-green-electricity-dirk-van-evercooren/ #GuaranteesofOrigin