Ahead of Electric-Vehicle Push, Daimler Invests in ChargePoint
Mercedes-Benz is busy planning a portfolio of electrified models with the upcoming launch of an all-electric EQ sub-brand around 2019 and?by 2020?a full range of complementary Mercedes plug-in hybrids. But the missing piece of the plan has been the infrastructure: With so many vehicles in the works, where do they charge, especially apartment dwellers in big cities or those who want to cover longer distances"
Not anymore. Daimler has forged an important partnership by becoming the lead investor in an $82 million Europe-focused fundraising round in ChargePoint, the largest of the electric-vehicle charging networks in the United States. The move provides ChargePoint with a market entry into Europe and gives Daimler (and its customers) that much needed public-charging infrastructure. In North America, ChargePoint currently has more than 33,000 charging ports distributed among 7000 sites. Daimler?s involvement could make those accessible to its U.S. customers. The latest funding push includes additional support from existing investors in the charging company, including BMW i Ventures, the electromobility venture-capital affiliate of BMW Group. The BMW i lineup is expected to expand and go entirely electric, so it?s quite possible that these two brands will sharing some charging resources moving forward.
ChargePoint notes that, at present, there are more electric vehicles on the road in Europe than in the U.S., and European EV and hybrid sales together are expected to mo...
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