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Volvo Group joins ČEZ investing in smart EV charging platform Driivz
By Zsófia Biró
The Israeli company Driivz is an expert when it comes to e-mobility charging software, that is why Czech utility group ČEZ invested in it two years ago through its Inven Capital: their charging stations have run on software from Driivz since 2020. Now the giant manufacturer Volvo Group became Driivz's major investor as well.
The Volvo Group started to produce its first two types of electric trucks in 2019 and now it has just presented its plan to offer a comprehensive portfolio of emissions-free trucks by 2040. In 2021, Volvo will present a comprehensive series of trucks for the delivery of goods, waste removal, regional transport and the construction business in Europe. At the moment, Volvo and Driivz are working on their pilot project, which is about developing and testing charging services for electric trucks.
"We're proud to be working with the Volvo Group, which is playing a leading role in the electrification of truck fleets," said Doron Frenkel, CEO of Driivz.
Volvo Group used its venture capital fund – just like ČEZ – to invest into Driivz. Erik Johansson, the Investment Director of the Volvo Group venture capital fund explained that the collaboration with Driivz will play an important role in the Volvo Group's efforts to help customers to electrify their transport solutions.
"We are impressed by the company and we believe the Volvo Group can add considerable value to the development of the business in the future," he said.
"We are happy that Driivz's innovative products and services attract international corporations such as Volvo Group to join existing investors," added ČEZ's Inven Capital investment manager, Michal Mravec. "The investment proves Driivz's immense potential in the planned development of e-mobility throughout the world."
If the collaboration between Volvo and Driivz will be successful, Volvo soon will walk the same path as ČEZ which, in 2020, already switched to the new Driivz IT system for the comprehensive management of its network of public charging stations. The system is capable to manage the charging process at public stations, including automatic repair of station failures, optimise the power flow to be in accordance with the distribution network. It also does a great job in the field of user account administration, invoicing, support for charging at home and in corporations – just to mention some of its features.
"The number of electric cars sky-rocketed in 2020, which also means greater use of public charging stands," stated Tomáš Chmelík, Manager of the Clean Technologies Department at ČEZ. "Only a good-quality application can manage an extensive network, which as of today comprises 280 stands and provide timely and quality information to customers. Of all of the systems considered, we chose and successfully deployed Driivz's solution last year. Thanks to the new application, among other things, the number of customers purchasing power from ČEZ stands grew by 100 per cent last year."
Photo: Volvo Trucks.
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Doron Frenkel
Driivz
electric trucks
Michal Mravec
Tomáš Chmelík
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