ABB takes a stake in the deep-tech startup Switch EV
ABB E-mobility today said it invested in the London-based Switch EV. Considered a “deep-tech startup” by ABB, the partners hope to unlock more integrated charging experiences, which should align with Switch founder Marc Mültin’s recent advances.
Mütlin has been in the e-mobility space for over thirteen years, working on the international EV communication standards ISO 15118 and the latest OCPP 2.0.1. These protocols also underpin the Switch platform, which offers “deep insights into the complete charging process” through analysing the harmonised “conversation” between the electric car and the charger and down to the backend, explains ABB. This includes grid integration for intelligent charging and V2G applications for which Switch currently relies on Nuvve.
ABB E-Mobility is acquiring a minority stake in Switch EV, but the companies agreed not to disclose the value of the investment.
However, ABB hopes to combine the Switch system with its own hardware solutions. “The integrated Switch system, combined with our smart and connected charging solutions, has exceptional potential to fix and restructure the EV charging ecosystem,” said Daniel Alarcon-Rubio, Chief Digital Officer at ABB E-mobility. “Marc and his team are trailblazing the field with their sophisticated software offering built on forward-looking protocols.”
The protocols mentioned above prevent a lock-in effect, writes ABB, and ultimately facilitate interoperable solutions across the industry. Companies could thus replace software solutions based on standardised protocols and service providers with “minimal migration effort,” explains ABB.
The companies add that such an approach should address the “current challenges faced across the global charger network, which remains fragmented, with a different charging experience from location to location, and operator to operator”. An integrated digital solution, starting from the vehicle and the EV charger to the grid, should then facilitate new business models and a better charging experience for the driver.
Switch calls its embedded charger operating system Josev which connects to the cloud-based charger management platform (Switch platform). partsThe companies inform that both are built entirely on these latest standards, eliminating barriers to business uptake.
Moreover, with ABB’s minority investment, Switch says it will continue to develop further its open-source stack ‘Josev Community’ and charger agnostic management platform across customer segments and geographies.
Switch founder Mültin added that ABB E-mobility and Switch were “dedicated to levelling the barriers fragmenting the EV charging space”. However, his company will continue to operate as an independent entity and look to expand partnerships along the EV charging value chain,” the CEO said.
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