Elli enters the industrial energy storage business
The Volkswagen Group is entering a new business segment with the Elli charging and energy brand and will develop, build and operate large-scale stationary storage systems together with partners along the value chain. In the future, Elli's industrial energy storage systems will be used to supply customers and for arbitrage transactions on the electricity market. In this way, Elli is driving the transformation into a smart energy company and making a significant contribution to stabilizing and increasing the efficiency of the power grids. First Elli battery storage projects could be set up as early as next year.
The largest projects in the Elli project pipeline currently have a capacity of up to 350 MW and a storage capacity of 700 MWh. Such projects would almost double the total storage capacity installed in Germany, which currently amounts around one GWh. "Germany and Europe need sufficient storage solutions to meet the increasing demand and to compensate for the volatile feed-in of renewable energies. Our investment in stationary battery storage systems is therefore a significant contribution to the sustainable transformation of the energy supply," says Volkswagen Group Board Member for Technology Thomas Schmall. The need for storage solutions is enormous: In 2023 alone, around 10,500 GWh were not generated from renewable electricity sources in Germany due to a lack of intermediate storage options. This amount of electricity would have been enough to power more than 3.2 million electric vehicles with electricity from renewable sources for a year. In order to compensate for the volatility of renewable energies, Fraunhofer Institute estimates a demand for battery storage systems of over 100 GWh by 2030.
Introducing the all-new Elli Charger 2: cost-effective charging to drive the energy transition at home
Lower charging costs thanks to smart charging features: the new Elli Charger 2 optimizes charging according to a home’s solar energy production and electricity prices and reduces charging costs by up to 40 percent.Developed for Europe: tailored to 28 European markets, the Elli Charger 2 will be available in four product versions starting from summer 2024.All-in-one solution: Volkswagen Group offers an industry-unique ecosystem featuring an electric vehicle, home charger, an exclusive green electricity tariff, and soon a photovoltaic system via our partner Otovo.Cutting-edge design meets best-in-class technology: the new charger engineered in close coordination with vehicle experts, manufactured in Germany at high-quality standards.
The Volkswagen Group brand Elli presents a significant product innovation for charging EVs. The new Elli Charger 2 is equipped with a wide range of services, enables significantly reduced charging costs, and is characterized by a perfectly coordinated ecosystem. Volkswagen customers can now purchase their electric vehicle, charger, and electricity tariff in an easy and integrated manner from a single source. In the future, they will also be able to purchase a solar panel system via selected Volkswagen sales channels. As part of the product launch of the new charger, Elli today announced a strategic partnership with the European solar panel provider Otovo to offer e-mobility customers holistic and innovative energy solutions for their home.
"To drive e-mobility, we have to make the charging experience simpler and significantly more cost-effective for customers. This is where the new Elli Charger 2 shines. It charges when solar energy is available and electricity prices are at their lowest.
„Charging Site Management” – Elli launches new commercial product
Elli’s all-new product Charging Site Management bundles planning, construction, and operation of charging infrastructure at company sites together with charging hardware and digital software. Autobahn GmbH des Bundes commissions Elli to supply Flexpoles for loading the company's own fleet. Elli’s product range benefits from its extensive experience in charging site management at Volkswagen Group locations. In total, Elli has been operating over 8,200 charging points at 23 Volkswagen plants and 1,500 retail locations since 2020 and has developed a deep understanding of the specific requirements and challenges that companies and their fleets face in the transition to electric mobility.
The electrification of fleets is a key step in the mobility transition, and with it comes the demand for innovative B2B charging solutions that ensure smooth operation of their business activities. With Charging Site Management, Volkswagen Group subsidiary Elli is launching a completely new B2B product that offers AC and DC charging hardware (including Elli Flexpole, Elli Charger and additional charging hardware from selected partners), integrated software solutions (including Elli Site Management Console and Elli Fleet Management Console), as well as extensive consulting functions. The software solutions focus on a simple plug and play concept and offer all features for the operation of charging infrastructures, including load management. Users have the option of making important changes for their operations at any time via dashboards (e.g. usage periods, average capacity utilization).
"We are very proud to now offer companies a customized charging product that relies on state-of-the-art hardware and software solutions. Charging Site Management is a modular product portfolio for fleet operators. Companies choose the scope of charging solutions according to their individual needs," explains Michael Gotthelf, Vice President Elli Commercial.
Hannover Messe 2024: Pioneering Research Project – Charging Electric Vehicles with Wind Energy
Volkswagen Group Charging (Elli ), EnerKíte, TU Braunschweig, and other project partners are researching an energy-autonomous charging solution for e-mobility.High-tech kites harvest high-altitude winds and convert them into electricity, which can be stored in innovative battery systems and used to charge EVs.Federal Minister Stark-Watzinger: "Strong network of competencies for the energy transition."
Volkswagen Group's subsidiary Elli , airborne wind turbine manufacturer EnerKíte, and the Technical University of Braunschweig present groundbreaking research at the Hannover Messe, which could enable energy-autonomous charging for electric vehicles in the future. High-tech kites "harvest" strong and steady high-altitude winds, converting them into electricity. The energy is stored in Elli's Flexpole fast-charger and can be used to charge EVs. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and coordinated at the Open Hybrid LabFactory Campus in Wolfsburg.
During her visit to the Hannover Messe, Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger learned about the cooperation project between science, industry and the start-up scene, whose research approach could solve a major problem for e-vehicle users in remote regions of the world and has enormous potential for the diversification of energy generation and charging infrastructure. Renewable energy sources are volatile, leading to higher costs for storage systems and network infrastructure. The collaboration between EnerKíte's base-load-capable airborne wind turbines and Elli's charging and storage technology enables grid-independent and constant power supply, even in remote regions. The new Elli Flexpole can be easily and flexibly installed as a fast-charging station and connected to the low-voltage grid thanks to its integrated battery system, without the need for a special transformer or expensive construction work.
New partnership with SIXT – Elli opens its charging network to external partners
For the first time, Elli is providing its European charging network and digital mobility services to companies outside the Volkswagen GroupIn partnership with Elli , the premium mobility provider SIXT launched its new app-integrated solution for a seamless charging experience across EuropeGiovanni Palazzo: “Collaborative innovations are a major step for Elli as one of the leading charging and energy companies.”
Volkswagen Group Charging (Elli ) opened its large European charging network to mobility companies outside the Volkswagen Group for the first time. With Elli's extensive charging infrastructure and innovative digital mobility solutions, customers can now enjoy seamless access to a vast and high-quality charging network across Europe. The new product SIXT charge simplifies the entire charging experience: from access to Elli`s charging network to find charge points, starting and ending charging sessions, and complete billing and payment.
"This collaboration with SIXT represents a pivotal step towards making electric mobility more accessible and convenient for everyone. The mobility transition requires us to rethink conventional industry paradigms and embrace sustainability as a guiding principle. By opening our premium charging ecosystem to mobility companies outside the Volkswagen Group, we are breaking down barriers and making electric mobility more accessible to a wider audience", says Giovanni Palazzo, CEO Elli . Nico Gabriel, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Sixt SE: “By launching our new app-integrated charging solution SIXT charge we are making charging as easy and seamless as possible. Together with our partner Elli , we are dedicated to making sustainable mobility accessible for even more people. With one single login in the SIXT app, our customers can take full advantage of extensive EV charging features across Europe as well as the entire SIXT ecosystem of mobility offerings.”
Elli (Volkswagen Group Charging) expands to 600,000 charging points across Europe
Elli further expands mobility service businessGiovanni Palazzo: "Number of charging points and charging quality are driving forces for the expansion of e-mobility in Europe"Selected Partner Network with premium charging points
Just in time for the new year, Elli (Volkswagen Group Charging) is expanding its charging network and offers e-mobility customers access to more than 600,000 charge points in 27 European countries. As one of the largest charging and energy provider and a brand of the Volkswagen Group, Elli is strategically expanding its mobility service business and, in addition to the quantitative expansion of the network, is focusing on greater convenience when charging. For Elli customers, this represents a major step forward in vehicle charging and in general a significant step forward for electric mobility in Europe.
Giovanni Palazzo, Elli CEO, expresses his enthusiasm for this milestone. Palazzo stated, "We are starting the year with an incredible news: Providing a pan-European network counting more than 600,000 charge points is a significant achievement for Volkswagen Group Charging GmbH. However, our commitment goes beyond quantity; it's about ensuring a high-quality charging experience to advancing electric mobility and decarbonizing society." One of the key initiatives driving quality of charging is the Selected Partner Network, a from Volkswagen Group newly founded program designed to elevate the charging experience for customers. The Selected Partner Network is a carefully curated group of partners of premium charge point operators that have been selected according to strict quality criteria. This network has optimal charge stops, high-performance charging infrastructure with on-site convenience (e.g. cafés, restaurants, sanitary facilities), and excellent operational reliability. Elli Drive Highway tariff customers also benefit from exclusive, lower energy prices.
Elli launches pan-European charging solution for electric fleets
Elli Fleet Charging manages fleet vehicle charging at home, in public, and at workSoftware will be available in Italy, Spain, and Austria starting in November Successful completion of market phase of with 650 companies in Germany Online registration in five easy steps
Volkswagen Group brand Elli is launching an intelligent
solution across Europe for electric vehicle fleets. With Elli Fleet Charging, companies in
Germany, Italy, Spain, and Austria are now able to manage and cost-optimize their fleet
charging. After a market introduction phase lasting several months, over 650 German
companies and fleet managers are already successfully using Elli’s product.
The number of electric vehicles in European fleets is steadily increasing - already one out of seven company fleet cars is fully or partially electric, meaning the proportion of EVs is significantly higher in fleets than in the general population. (Source: KfW Research, August 2023). The main drivers are the reduction of CO2 emissions and legal regulations. As a result, electric fleet charging management is continuously increasing in importance for companies."The transition to electric mobility is changing the way companies organize their mobility. Electric fleet management differs from classic fleet management because company car drivers aren’t just charging on the road. Companies need a solution that has an integrated multi-national billing system that covers all types of charging cases, from the public fast charging station to the private home charger with a MID energy meter. Elli offers turnkey software and hardware solutions that completely cover this use case," says Giovanni Palazzo, Elli CEO and SVP Volkswagen Group Charging & Energy. With Elli Fleet Charging, the fleet is managed efficiently and cost-effectively, reducing the administrative workload for both employer and employee. The Fleet Management Console empowers complete cost transparency and visibility around the clock.
ID. Buzz Pro - Power consumption in kWh/100 km: combined 22.0-20.7; CO₂ emissions combined in g/km: 0; consumption and emission values in accordance with WLTP and not NEDC are available for the vehicle. Information on consumption and CO₂ emissions, shown in ranges, depends on the selected vehicle equipment.
Elli at IAA 2023: Showcasing Elli’s new e-mobility products, and future projects
Europe’s largest charging network expands to 540,000 charge points Selected Partner Network launched as a premium charging network Scaling up Elli’s smart energy platform and battery storage Elli’s "Battery under management" future strategies
As one of Europe’s largest e-mobility service providers, Volkswagen Group’s brand Elli will showcase new charging products and services as well as unveil its future plans at this year's International Motor Show (IAA) in Munich. Elli will also give a sneak peek at upcoming energy innovations and its transition to providing holistic energy solutions.
At the heart of Elli’s IAA product presentation is the Flexpole. This easy-to-install and flexible fast charging station with an integrated battery storage system can be connected to a low-voltage grid without a special transformer or costly construction work. The Flexpole’s two connectors can deliver fast-charging speeds at up to 150 kW which can deliver up to 160 km range within 10 minutes, depending on the vehicle. “With the new Flexpole and the continued expansion of Elli’s charging network to more than 540,000 charge points, we are quickly and reliably driving forward e-mobiliy’s expansion. Elli is already one of the largest e-mobility service providers in Europe. But, customers aren’t just interested in quantity – and that’s why we’re focusing much more on the holistic charging experience,“ explains Elli CEO Giovanni Palazzo in Munich. With this in mind, Elli offers its customers access to the so-called Selected Partner Network - a network of premium charging point operators that have been selected according to strict quality criteria. This network has optimal charging stops, high-performance charging infrastructure with on-site convenience (e.g. cafés, restaurants, sanitary facilities), and excellent operational reliability. Elli Drive Highway tariff customers also benefit from exclusive, lower energy prices.