French energy giant EDF set out its stall to be “Europe’s e-mobility leader” with an new strategy that aims to make it the leading power supplier to electric vehicles (EVs) in four key markets by 2022.

EDF’s Electric Mobility Plan will leverage its existing power sector presence and form new partnerships in a bid to grab 30% market shares for EV charging in France, the UK, Italy and Belgium, supplying electricity for a total of 600,000 vehicles.

The French group will offer those markets “a fully integrated range of offerings including low carbon electricity, a charging solution for all its customers with access to a parking space, and services geared towards optimised charging and use of the vehicle’s battery”.

EDF’s European charging network ambitions will be led by French subsidiary Sodetrel, which hopes to deploy 75,000 charging points, and the group has forged various relationships with automotive majors including Renault-Nissan and Toyota.

The utility will also look to extend into Europe its existing partnership with Nuvve, a Californian start-up specialising in EV-related energy flexibility software. Rechargereported earlier this week how Nuvve is among the companies seeking to break down barriers to ‘vehicle-to-grid’ technology, seen as vital to enabling higher penetration of renewables in future power systems.

EDF is among a clutch of European electric utility majors seeking to take a leadership role in a widely-expected boom in the EV market, joining the likes of Italy’s Enel and Germany’s E.ON and Innogy.

CEO Jean-Bernard Lévy said: “EDF is building an ecosystem of innovative players by forming strategic partnerships for the large-scale roll-out of the best technologies to support our customers.”

Transition

EDF aims to be EV charging leader with e-mobility strategy