French electric utility company EDF has acquired a majority stake in British EV charging solutions provider Pod Point, as part of a newly-formed joint venture with Legal & General Capital.
Pod Point will be EDF’s biggest EV investment and the acquisition forms part of its plan to become a leading energy company for electric mobility in the UK, France, Italy and Belgium.
Erik Fairbairn, CEO and founder, Pod Point, said: “By joining up with EDF we can take things to the next level and accelerate our national roll out of charging points and make it even easier for drivers across the UK to go electric.
“I’m immensely proud of what the Pod Point team has already achieved but think it is only a fraction of what we will now be able to do with EDF.
“We just took a big step forward in being able to deliver against our mission!”
EDF currently offers a low-carbon EV tariff, Go Electric, which gives people the chance to lease an EV while getting lower off-peak electricity rates.
With the acquisition of Pod Point, EDF will be able to provide Pod Point charging solutions as part of its EV offering.
EDF data suggests that a low carbon grid, featuring new renewables and nuclear, and switching the 32 million petrol and diesel cars on UK roads to electric, would avoid 65 million tonnes of CO2, and shrink Britain’s overall carbon footprint by more than 10%.
Simone Rossi, UK CEO of EDF, said: “EVs will be crucial in reducing the UK’s carbon emissions and fighting climate change.
“With the addition of charge points, we can help our customers to reduce their carbon footprints and benefit from lower fuel costs by going electric.
“The additional electricity demand from EVs will require urgent investment in low carbon generation from renewables and nuclear.”
Want to learn more about the latest in electric vehicle charging technologies? CiTTi Exhibition takes place on the 3rd and 4th of June at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena. Register your interest to attend at www.cittiexhibition.co.uk
