EVBox, a major EV charging equipment manufacturer, is calling it quits. This is just the latest in a string of shutdowns in the EV charging space, with Tesla's Supercharger divestiture leading the pack. Now, EVBox's main investor, Engie, is looking to sell off the company in pieces.
After the Supercharger exit, I wrote an article diving into viable business models for EV charging. My take? The utility model is the only one that stands a chance. Grid operators should own the chargers and profit from the extra kWh transmitted, not from direct sales. Engie doesn’t operate grids, and this is exactly why their investment didn't pay off.
We’ll see more of these closures until grid operators and regulators recognize that EV charging should be treated as part of grid services, not a standalone business.
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