Chargepoint CEO Wilmer: “Europe is a key market”
Image: ChargePoint
The U.S.-based charging infrastructure company Chargepoint sees significant growth potential for electric mobility in Europe. According to CEO Rick Wilmer, this market currently offers better macroeconomic conditions than North America, where political support, emission regulations, and incentives are accelerating the transition. In the U.S., many of these tools have been removed.
Wilmer aims for the ambitious goal that Europe could eventually account for half of Chargepoint’s revenue. He strives to reach this threshold within the next two to three years. A key factor driving this development is the new Express fast-charging platform, designed for both cars and trucks.
"In traditional DC fast chargers, the conversion of alternating current to direct current and the subsequent adjustment of the DC voltage are usually handled in a single power module," explains Wilmer regarding the Express architecture. "We separated these steps: the AC/DC conversion takes place in dedicated modules, while the DC/DC conversion occurs in separate modules. There is a DC bus between them." Battery storage systems or photovoltaic installations can be directly integrated into this bus without the need for additional inverters. This is intended to save energy, reduce heat loss, and make the system more compact.
The power electronics in the express stations are air-cooled, while only the cables can be liquid-cooled. According to Wilmer, this design reduces costs and minimizes space requirements, which is particularly advantageous in industrial areas. Delivery of the new units to Europe is set to begin toward the end of this year, with full production capacity planned for 2027.
To address grid constraints, the company is working on solutions that integrate renewable energy sources, storage systems, and charging infrastructure. When asked about extremely high charging capacities of up to 1000 kilowatts, Wilmer noted in an interview with Automobilwoche that the benefits of very fast charging diminish after a certain point, and the costs for even higher capacities rise significantly.
Chargepoint is also working on solutions that better connect renewable energy generation, battery storage, and charging infrastructure. Autonomous vehicles could become a future driver of charging demand, as they are electrically powered. The company is preparing to address the specific needs of autonomous fleets with tailored solutions.
Regarding financial developments, Wilmer does not provide specific forecasts, but emphasizes that the company is working hard to achieve profitability. Europe is considered a key market in this regard.
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About the author
Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive and financial industries. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.
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