In an exciting collaboration, the Swedish clean technology company Elonroad and Estonia’s Smart Mobility company Elmo are teaming up to develop a cutting-edge stationary charging track for electric vehicles (EVs) with the aim to transform EV charging technology and promote sustainable transportation solutions.
The EV boom is at full speed, as battery-powered cars broke records in 2022, taking 12,1% of the total market share in the EU, compared to 9,1% in 2021, according to Euronews. With Estonia’s favourable business climate and openness to innovations, this joint venture is set to significantly impact the future of urban mobility.
Enhancing electric vehicle charging
Elmo, an Estonian company providing electric car-sharing services since 2013, has focused on developing remote control technology, known as teledriving, in recent years. This innovative approach allows cars to be brought directly to customers, making the service more convenient and eco-friendly. Elmo is the only company in the world currently using this technology on public roads.
To further improve their services, Elmo and Elonroad have decided to collaborate on developing an autonomous charging lane for electric cars. The pilot charging station will be located near Elmo’s head office in Tallinn, Estonia, specifically in the bustling Ülemiste business district. This innovative infrastructure will enable efficient charging between scheduled trips, minimizing downtime and maximizing user satisfaction.
Electrification meets shared economy
The ultimate goal of this collaboration is to equip teledriven vehicles with automatic charging capabilities, ensuring their readiness for widespread deployment.
The partnership aims to supply Elmo’s entire operational network with automatic charging infrastructure by evaluating and developing similar installations for public spaces. This strategic collaboration aligns perfectly with the megatrends of mobility electrification and the shared economy, driving industry-wide growth while promoting environmental consciousness.
The development plan will be executed in two stages. First, a pilot project will be implemented, and upon successful completion, it will transition to a full-scale commercialization phase. Elonroad, with its proprietary 22kW automatic charging technology, will develop and install the charging station. As part of the project, they will retrofit an electricity collector on a Nissan Leaf vehicle, demonstrating the compatibility of their technology with existing EV models.
Elonroad’s modules
Investment opportunity
“It’s a perfect combination of two megatrends – [mobility] electrification and shared economy,” Elonroad’s CEO, Karin Ebbinghaus, says. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in Elmo’s journey to revolutionize car sharing and create a more sustainable future, adds Enn Laansoo Jr., CEO and Founder of Elmo.
Elmo, already operating Estonia’s most extensive rental fleet, is now looking for new investors to scale up. It has recently raised €2,6M from an international growth capital fund and other investors to speed up the licencing of remote control technology in foreign markets.
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