Rexel takes over charging specialist Freshmile

Rexel, a distribution specialist for electrical installation materials and electrical components, has acquired 100 per cent of the French charging network operator Freshmile. The network operator currently manages more than 8,000 charging points and provides services to more than 50,000 EV drivers.

Rexel aims to strengthen its position as a specialist company for the professional distribution of energy solutions by integrating Freshmile’s software and service offering. Thomas Moreau, Chairman of Rexel France, describes the acquisition as an important step to enrich Rexel’s offering of connected solutions and services in the field of charging infrastructure, but also more generally in terms of energy efficiency. The company says this will improve development opportunities in the fast-growing e-mobility market.

Rexel aims to link the eMobility field with the areas of energy storage, self-consumption and energy management or, in a broader sense, with the fields of building intelligence, networks and infrastructures. Rexel France, a long-standing subsidiary of the Rexel Group, currently has a network of 440 branches and nine logistics centres across France. In 2018, the company already announced a collaboration with Smatrics.

Freshmile maintains two main business lines: operating charging stations and providing services to drivers of electric vehicles. At the time of its acquisition, the company operates more than 8,000 charging points and provides eMobility services to more than 50,000 electric car drivers with access to 100,000 charging points across Europe via roaming. Freshmile says it is currently responsible for 20 per cent of the public charging stations in France.

Arnaud Mora, CEO of Freshmile, says that joining the Rexel Group will allow it to accelerate growth and enable international expansion. Fresh milk says it shares with Rexel France the vision of an energy transition based on the intelligent combination of hardware and services. “We have increased our business volume tenfold in the last 3 years and are preparing to increase it by another 10 in the next 3 years,” Mora elaborates.

Freshmile was founded in Strasbourg in 2010 and merged with Caisse des Dépôts in 2016. The company employs 25 people and develops its activities primarily in Europe, the French overseas departments and the Middle East. Until now, the start-up was mainly owned by Banque des Territoires, part of the Caisse des Dépôts group, and Arnaud Mora, the founder of the company.

Rexel and Freshmile intend to play to their strengths in the future by creating turnkey solutions for B2B customers and by offering solutions specifically for installers, maintenance personnel, facility managers and charging station operators. In addition, solution offers are to become even more customer-specific. Users in the private, industrial, commercial and public sectors are to be served.

with reporting my Cora Werwitzke, France

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