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ANTWERP, Belgium, Oct. 19, 2022  – – Blue Corner, a wholly owned subsiderary of Blink Charging Co. (Nasdaq: BLNK, BLNKW), and leading owner and operator of electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment and services, today announced the release of Connected EV Charging report in collaboration with with Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), Arthur D. Little, and connectivity provider Orange Belgium, on how cellular IoT (Internet of Things) plays a central role in connecting and orchestrating electric vehicle charging stations.

As consumers, governments, and the automotive industry look toward a more sustainable and efficient alternative to fossil-fueled vehicles, EV charging providers recognize a business growth opportunity. However, they are facing the challenge of effectively operating and maintaining a fast-growing number of charging stations, and ensuring that stations are utilized and profitable, while offering a seamless charging experience to their customers.

The report explores how cellular IoT connectivity supports the authorization of users, payment processes, station monitoring and maintenance, and smart energy management, while also providing valuable data to improve planning and developing new customer services.

Another advantage of cellular IoT connectivity is its built-in security measures to protect data and sensitive information, creating an immediate value added, in addition to reliable coverage regardless the location.

The report analyzed a European, medium-sized EV charging brand with 9 million EUR in revenues and found that it can expect:

• 40% revenue increase due to interoperability, i.e., revenue share from its customers using other EV charging providers’ stations.
• About 15% decrease in annual monitoring costs, as a result of remote monitoring – saving time and effort associated with physical inspections.
• More rapid response times to technical issues, improving uptime and customer experience, as a result of remote monitoring.

Olivier van Schap, Managing Director of Blue Corner, commented that “Blue Corner joined forces with Blink Charging Co. in 2021 with the ambition to grow into a leading player in the European EV market in the short term. With a network of over 10,000 charging points throughout Europe, we’re working towards a more sustainable society by reducing carbon emissions through innovative charging solutions. With our connectivity partner Orange Belgium and its IoT solutions powered by Ericsson IoT Accelerator, we can ensure that our charging stations are always connected and well maintained, making us ready to serve driver’s needs today and potentially exployting the IoT advantages.”

Stakeholders benefit as well. For instance, a parking operator who owns connected charging stations can earn additional revenues as a result of IoT-enabled interoperability.

“This report demonstrates the value of cellular IoT connectivity in keeping up with the fast-paced growth of EV charging networks. Ericsson IoT Accelerator provides vital capabilities, including subscription lifestyle management, service management, and business insights – enabling EV charging providers to deploy, manage and scale their IoT-powered business from a single connectivity management platform,” says Jess Thompson-Hughes, IoT Enterprise Sales Director, Energy & Utilities, Ericsson.

Werner de Laet, Chief Enterprise Officer, Orange Belgium, says, “We equip each charging station with a SIM card connecting the stations to a public cellular network, allowing for real-time data transfer and asset management, providing the framework for Blue Corner to remotely manage their charging stations – one of the key factors in cost savings – and optimize performance based on data insights.”

With inevitable disruptions on the horizon including the ongoing energy crisis, the demand for EVs has provided cities and governments with challenges as they struggle to keep up with the growing need to ensure steady adoption of new infrastructure. Through cellular IoT, EV charging companies can manage complex stakeholder ecosystems, from drivers to hardware providers, by enhancing network functionalities, while simultaneously building a solid, future-proof foundation to scale their business.

EV charging providers and other ecosystem stakeholders can calculate the potential value of cellular IoT connectivity to their business using Ericsson’s Business Value Calculator.

For more information:

Contact person Blue Corner – Olivier Van Schap | Managing Director | Olivier.VanSchap@bluecorner.be
Media Blink Charging: PR@BlinkCharging.com