Destination Charging and the Rise of the EMP with Frank Lauenstein | Destination:Charging Podcast

Welcome to another episode of Destination:Charging, a podcast by Powerdot! In this episode, Afonso Ramos, co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Powerdot, sits down with Frank Lauenstein, Managing Director and Head of Sales at Plugsurfing, one of Europe’s pioneering e-mobility service providers (EMSP). Join us as we explore Plugsurfing's journey from a Berlin-based startup to a pan-European EMP with a strong OEM and fleet focus. Frank shares his perspective on the shift back to a focused EMSP strategy, the evolving demands of fleet managers, and how destination charging plays a central role in a seamless EV driver experience. In this engaging conversation, we explore: The origins of Plugsurfing and the meaning behind its name How the company evolved from a B2C app to an OEM partner powerhouse Why they shifted focus back to EMSP-only in 2022 The importance of customization and flexibility for OEM relationships How Plugsurfing serves small to large-scale EV fleets The growing significance of destination charging in everyday life What an ideal CPO looks like from an EMSP perspective The future of EV charging: plug & charge, data integration, and embedded payment systems 🔗 Connect with Frank Lauenstein: Website: https://www.plugsurfing.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franklauenstein/ 🔗 Connect with Powerdot: Website: https://powerdot.eu/ Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/power-dot/ Stay tuned for more episodes and join our mission to accelerate sustainable mobility. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights from industry leaders! Timestamps 00:00 - Meet Frank Lauenstein from Plugsurfing 01:30 - The origins and early vision behind Plugsurfing 03:20 - Nordic connection and acquisition by Fortum 06:00 - Strategic shift back to EMSP focus 09:20 - Understanding the value of OEM customization 13:50 - How plug & charge and APIs enhance the user experience 17:30 - Managing EV fleets and fleet manager priorities 21:00 - The beauty and value of destination charging 26:00 - OEMs and their evolving role in destination use cases 30:00 - Future services: maintenance, parking, and value layering 34:30 - Plug & charge adoption and roadmap 38:00 - Emerging trends in embedded payments and integration 41:00 - Ideal CPO characteristics and subscription considerations 44:00 - Closing remarks and what's next for Plugsurfing Thank you for listening to Destination:Charging. For more insights and to stay connected with our mission to accelerate sustainable mobility, please visit our show notes for links and further resources. Don't forget to review and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Until next time, and keep moving forward with Destination:Charging.

Welcome to another episode of Destination:Charging, a podcast by Powerdot! In this episode, Carlos Gomes, Head of Data at Powerdot, sits down with Eric Plaquet, CEO of Gireve, a leading company in EV charging interoperability across Europe. Join us as we dive into the world of EV charging, exploring how Gireve plays a crucial role in enabling seamless interoperability between charging networks. Eric shares his insights on the challenges and opportunities of building a unified EV charging ecosystem, the importance of open standards, and the evolution of user behavior in electric mobility. In this engaging conversation, we explore: The role of Gireve in the EV charging ecosystem How interoperability enhances the user experience The evolution of roaming agreements and seamless charging solutions Challenges in scaling EV charging infrastructure across Europe The growing importance of destination charging Future innovations in smart charging and grid integration 🔗 Connect with Eric Plaquet: Website: https://www.gireve.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-plaquet-4672377/ 🔗 Connect with Powerdot: Website: https://powerdot.eu/ Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/power-dot/ Stay tuned for more episodes and join our mission to accelerate sustainable mobility. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights from industry leaders! Timestamps 00:00 - Meet Eric Plaquet from Gireve 02:10 - Understanding Gireve’s role in EV charging 05:00 - The importance of interoperability in charging networks 08:15 - The evolution of EV roaming agreements 11:30 - Challenges in scaling charging infrastructure 15:20 - The rise of destination charging and its impact 19:10 - Future trends in smart charging and grid integration 23:45 - The role of data and digital platforms in EV adoption 27:30 - Gireve’s contribution to standardization and transparency 31:00 - Final thoughts and future innovations 34:30 - Closing remarks Thank you for listening to Destination:Charging. For more insights and to stay connected with our mission to accelerate sustainable mobility, please visit our show notes for links and further resources. Don't forget to review and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Until next time, and keep moving forward with Destination:Charging.

Welcome to another episode of Destination:Charging, a podcast by Powerdot! In this episode, Joao Seabra, COO of Powerdot, sits down with Oscar Sánchez, Business Development Lead at Kempower, a company specializing in innovative EV charging solutions. Join us as we dive into the world of EV charging, exploring Kempower's approach to fast-charging technology, its impact on destination charging, and how the industry is evolving to meet growing EV adoption. Oscar shares his insights on the importance of efficient power distribution, user-friendly charging experiences, and the key challenges shaping the future of EV infrastructure. In this engaging conversation, we explore: The role of destination charging in the EV ecosystem How Kempower’s innovative technology optimizes charging efficiency Challenges in power distribution and infrastructure expansion Lessons learned from the Nordic EV market The importance of user experience in EV charging solutions Emerging trends and future technological innovations in the industry 🔗 Connect with Oscar Sánchez: Website: https://kempower.com/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscar-s%C3%A1nchez-valverde/ 🔗 Connect with Powerdot: Website: https://powerdot.eu/ Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/power-dot/ 🚀 Stay tuned for more episodes and join our mission to accelerate sustainable mobility. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights from industry leaders! Timestamps (00:00) - Meet Oscar Sánchez from Kempower (02:10) - Understanding Kempower’s role in EV charging (04:45) - Destination charging vs. highway charging (07:30) - The impact of EV charging habits in the Nordics (10:15) - Key challenges in destination charging (13:20) - Power distribution and infrastructure constraints (16:05) - User experience and accessibility improvements (19:40) - The future of EV charging: trends and innovations (23:15) - Global EV adoption trends and Kempower's international expansion (26:40) - Kempower’s focus on sustainability and efficiency (30:00) - Final thoughts and future developments (33:45) - Closing remarks Thank you for listening to Destination:Charging. For more insights and to stay connected with our mission to accelerate sustainable mobility, please visit our show notes for links and further resources. Don't forget to review and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Until next time, and keep moving forward with Destination:Charging.

Welcome to another episode of Destination:Charging, a podcast by Powerdot! In this episode, Afonso, one of the founders and Chief Product Officer at PowerDot, sits down with Yoann Nussbaumer, CEO of the Brakson Group and founder of Chargemap. Join us into the world of electric vehicle (EV) charging, exploring the journey of Chargemap from its inception to becoming one of the largest Pan-European charge point operators. Yoann shares his insights on the challenges and successes of building a seamless EV charging experience, the importance of interoperability, and the future trends in sustainable mobility. In this engaging conversation, we explore: The inspiration behind Chargemap and its early days Challenges faced in launching the Chargemap Pass The importance of collaboration between CPOs and EMSPs User-centric product development and the culture at Chargemap Trends in EV mobility and the significance of destination charging Future technological innovations in the EV charging industry 🔗 Connect with Yoann Nussbaumer: Website: https://chargemap.com/ Website of Yoann: https://yoann.net/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoann/ 🔗 Connect with Powerdot: Website: https://powerdot.eu/ Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/power-dot/ 🚀 Stay tuned for more episodes and join our mission to accelerate sustainable mobility. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights from industry leaders! Timestamps  (00:00) - Meet Yoann Nussbaumer, CEO of Chargemap (02:16) - The origins of Chargemap (05:04) - Launching the Chargemap Pass (07:03) - Early challenges and resistance from CPOs (08:48) - The evolution of CPO and EMSP collaboration (11:02) - User experience and product strategy at Chargemap (14:13) - Real-life examples of user feedback shaping the product (16:43) - The growth and success of Chargemap (18:28) - The Brakson Group and its mission (20:30) - Trends in EV mobility and user behavior (24:03) - The importance of destination charging (28:19) - Future technological innovations in EV charging (31:00) - The ideal EV user experience (34:20) - Challenges with OEMs and accessing car data (36:13) - Closing remarks

In this episode, we're joined by EV travel hacker Felix Hamer, better known as Electric Felix, with a passion for electric vehicles (EVs) and sustainable travel. Felix shares his journey from biking around Amsterdam to becoming a pioneer in electric mobility. He recounts his early experiences with electric smart cars in Amsterdam, his transformative encounter with an electric motorbike, and his adventures across Europe in various EVs. Felix's stories highlight the evolution of EV infrastructure and the importance of charging networks in making sustainable travel feasible. In this engaging conversation, we explore: Felix's transition from traditional vehicles to electric mobility. The development of EV infrastructure across Europe. The challenges and triumphs of traveling with electric vehicles. Felix's insights on destination charging and the future of sustainable mobility. 🔗 Connect with Felix: Website: https://www.electricfelix.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/electricfelix/ 🔗 Connect with PowerDot: Website: https://powerdot.eu/ Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/power-dot/ 🚀 Stay tuned for more episodes and join our mission to accelerate sustainable mobility. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights from industry leaders!   Timestamps  (00:00) - Introduction to Destination Charging (02:29) - Discovering EV Charging Anomalies and Experiences (06:14) - The Importance of Charging Infrastructure and Sharing EV Knowledge (18:12) - Destination Charging Across Europe and Emerging Technologies (28:47) - Ideal Charging Experience and Memorable Charging Locations

Join us in this insightful episode of the Destination Charging podcast, brought to you by Powerdot. In this episode, we sit down with Sherief Rahim, the Managing Director at IMPROVED, a global corporate finance boutique specializing in the tech, energy, and mobility sectors. Sherief shares his expert insights on the evolution of the EV charging industry, the challenges and opportunities for Charge Point Operators (CPOs), and the future of investment in sustainable infrastructure. 🔌 What we cover in this episode: The role of IMPROVED in the EV charging sector and their extensive experience with M&A and growth financing transactions. The early days of EV charging infrastructure and the strategic importance of companies like Newmotion and Alego. The dynamics of fundraising in the EV charging space and the comparison to other industries. The challenges CPOs face including land grabbing, grid connections, and proving utilization patterns. The impact of the current interest rate environment on fundraising and valuations. The next geographical frontiers for EV charging expansion. Advice for entrepreneurs looking to pitch to investors and raise capital. 🔗 Connect with Improved: Website: https://improvedcf.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/improved-corporate-finance/ Sherief Rahim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheriefrahim/   🔗 Connect with PowerDot: Website: https://powerdot.eu/ Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/power-dot/ 🚀 Stay tuned for more episodes and join our mission to accelerate sustainable mobility. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights from industry leaders!   Timestamps  (00:28) - Introduction to Sherief and his role at Improved (05:31) - Major transactions, acquisitions shaping the EV charging sector. (10:33) - Insight into the growth and investment trends in EV charging (18:34) - Challenges and expansion opportunities for EV charging market (27:01) - Strategies on capital raising and exit opportunities for the EV charging industry.

In this episode we have the pleasure of being joined by Ryan Fisher, an analyst for electrified transport at BloombergNEF in London. This discussion focuses on the advancements in EV technology, the importance of charging infrastructure, and the impact of government regulations on EV adoption. Ryan's expertise sheds light on the transition from traditional vehicles to electric ones and how Mobility Service Providers (MSPs) are adapting to this shift. This episode is for anyone interested in the future of sustainable mobility, blending industry analysis with practical insights for navigating the EV landscape.   Get in touch with Ryan:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-a-fisher/ https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AT-V_tKF0qE/ryan-fisher   Transcript:  (02:44) - Introduction to Electric Mobility  (04:12) - Impact of Policies and Incentives on EV Adoption (12:18) - Challenges and Lessons from Different Markets  (29:31) - Role of Charging Technology and Market Dynamics (34:22)- Future of Charging Technology and Market Dynamics  

Welcome to Destination Charging - a podcast by Powerdot.  Join us for engaging conversation and insights from leading voices in the industry. Each episode unveils new perspectives and highlights the steps towards a greener future.  Keep moving forward with Destination:Charging