Intellihub & ENGIE boost EV charging in Australia
Intellihub has reached two significant commercial agreements with ENGIE to enhance the adoption of household and vehicle electrification in Australia.
Intellihub, backed by Pacific Equity Partners and Brookfield, will acquire ENGIE's Australian electric vehicle (EV) charging business, incorporating more than 200 public charging points at prominent locations like Chadstone Shopping Centre, Chatswood Chase, and the Royal Adelaide Hospital. This acquisition allows Intellihub, through its subsidiary EVSE, to expand its national public charging network significantly.
Brendan Wheeler, CEO of EVSE, said, "In a single transaction, EVSE now has a presence in an additional 200 high-traffic, high-visibility locations, providing greater convenience and support for customers using the Exploren Charging Network – the fastest growing EV charging network in Australia."
"The Exploren Charging Network simplifies the way in which customers access EV public charging solutions by providing a singular payment interface for sites across the country. This transaction is a critical piece in the puzzle of delivering seamless charging access at home, at work and on the road."
Beyond the acquisition, Intellihub and ENGIE have also formed a long-term commercial partnership focused on rolling out smart energy management devices across Australia. These Consumer Energy Resources (CER) will provide customers with better monitoring capabilities for household electricity usage, including solar panels, battery storage, and hot water systems.
Wes Ballantine, CEO of Intellihub, emphasised the timeliness of these initiatives amid current economic pressures. "Our partnership with ENGIE is about empowering Australians to take control of how they are using energy at the home and providing more options for Australian EV users to charge their car. We know that one in three Aussie homes now have rooftop solar, with more than 300,000 new rooftop solar systems being installed each year, and more than 28 per cent of rooftop solar installations were being combined with a battery in the second half of last year."
"Australians now have power over their generation, the next step is to unlock the efficiencies and savings available through better energy storage and management. We're excited about the value this partnership can help unlock for customers. In the short-term it helps Australians to monitor and regulate their energy usage and in the long term it will allow us all to do our part in Australia's transition to a more sustainable energy future," Mr Ballantine remarked.
From ENGIE's perspective, the partnership complements its strategic goals, as ENGIE ANZ CEO Shannon Hyde highlighted. "The consumer-led energy revolution is set to accelerate in the next 5-10 years, with customers seeking new technology to help reduce their energy bills. Aussies are turning their attention to batteries, electrification and electric vehicles to make their lives more comfortable and economical, but also in support of the energy transition. This partnership offers the latest high-quality technology, coupled with targeted energy plans that maximise financial benefits, and it supports the electricity grid in its transition to a net zero future," Mr Hyde stated.
The collaboration is expected to thrive under the tailwinds of government initiatives promoting battery and solar subsidies. Intellihub and ENGIE aim for these agreements to grant Australian energy users greater control and efficiency in their energy consumption.
