GIG and Heliox partner to deliver pioneering EV Charging-as-a-Service

Macquarie’s Green Investment Group (GIG) has partnered with Heliox B.V. to start delivering eBus & eTruck charging infrastructure across Europe.

Through an innovative ‘charging-as-a-service’ (CaaS) model, the partnership will own and fund the construction of charging infrastructure and maintain the charging facilities on behalf of customers.

Initial targets are to focus on high-growth EV markets including the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the UK.

GIG and Heliox will provide fully financed, turn-key charging solutions for the life cycle of the projects in return for fixed regular payments.

By removing up-front costs, the service reduces one of the main barriers to fleet electrification, and enables customers to convert capex costs into opex costs, making the cost of charging competitive to traditional diesel fuels, while dramatically lowering the carbon footprint of their fleet.

Projects delivered through the partnership will utilise Heliox’s pioneering vehicle-to-grid and dynamic charging technologies: dynamic charging enables charging power between the grid and any electric vehicle to be controlled in real time, meaning high-cost peak-demand hours can be avoided; while their vehicle-to-grid technology provides a bi-directional energy flow, transforming the vehicles and depots into a virtual power plant.

Building on their market-leading track record, which includes implementing the world’s largest bus depot charging network at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport in 2018, Heliox was recently selected by First Bus to power its depot in Glasgow, Scotland.

Over the next 18 months, the depot will be reconfigured to enable on-site charging of up to 300 eBuses, transforming it into the UK’s biggest electric charging station. The project was announced ahead of the UN’s Climate Change Conference COP26 which will take place in the city in November.

Greg Callman, Head of Energy Technology at GIG, said: “The transport sector presents one of the world’s greatest decarbonisation challenges. We’ve got to accelerate the deployment of low-carbon technologies across all segments of the sector.

“Our pioneering partnership with Heliox helps bus and truck operators decarbonise their fleets more cost effectively and rapidly, while reducing diesel emissions and improving the air quality of European cities.”

Roel Vissers, Group CFO of Heliox, said: “Globally, transport is undergoing a generational transition to zero-emissions, and the technology to support that transition is now available for mass rollout, thereby pushing the envelope for earlier and faster adoption of carbon neutral electric vehicles.

“By partnering with GIG, we answer a real need in the market for an affordable and tailored financing solution in Europe. Charging-as-a-service will make the switch to electrification easily available for ambitious fleet and charge point operators in all sectors, thereby truly supporting the low carbon transition.”

Image: Shutterstock

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