PV provider Otovo and Elli, a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group, have started a strategic partnership to combine solar energy and electric mobility. The partnership aims to enable both companies to develop tailor-made solutions for the growing EV market.
By combining a wallbox and a PV system, the partnership claims it can reduce the total cost of ownership for electric vehicles by up to 40%. While saving money, it will create an ecosystem for sustainable mobility and energy for consumers.
Otovo, a pan-European residential solar marketplace, launched in the UK in 2023. In March this year, it introduced its solar subscription product to “democratize access to solar energy.” Elli offers a broad portfolio of energy and charging solutions in Europe and acts as a Mobility Services Provider.
Central to the collaboration is the implementation of efficient charging of PV surpluses, where excess solar energy is used directly to charge electric vehicles. From summer this year, VW customers can purchase a PV system with an Elli Charger 2 through the sales channels of the VW Group.
It will be rolled out first in Germany and then in all 13 of Otovo’s European markets: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
An Otovo solar installer will install the system. The combined wallbox and PV will deliver savings for consumers who, by generating their own solar energy, will be independent of fluctuations in electricity prices. The system allows consumers to charge their cars with PV surpluses and save on charging costs.
Giovanni Palazzo, CEO of Elli, said: To further advance electromobility, we need to make the entire charging ecosystem more accessible and cost-effective for customers.
“That is why the collaboration with Otovo is not only an important signal for the charging and energy sector in Germany and Europe, but especially for the intelligent integration of mobility and energy transition at home. We are very pleased with this important step and the groundbreaking collaboration.”
Andreas Thorsheim, CEO and founder of Otovo, added: “Through the collaboration with Elli, our solar energy solutions will be presented directly to buyers at the point of sale. The savings associated with PV systems become immediately visible. This collaboration allows us to immediately demonstrate the benefits of our photovoltaic systems and significantly expand our market potential.”
This article was originally published on our sister site, Current±.
