ChargePoint, the electric vehicle (EV) charging network has acquired ViriCiti, a provider of electrification solutions for eBus and commercial fleets, the company has announced.
With operations in North America and Europe, the move bolsters ChargePoint’s commitment to the electrification of fleet and commercial segments in North America and Europe. There is also a pending acquisition of Has.to.be, a leading European provider of e-mobility technology.
ViriCiti has more than 50 employees in the Netherlands and United States and its team, customer accounts and technology will merge into Chargepoint’s operation. This will enhance the ChargePoint fleet solution portfolio of hardware, software and services.
Information sources will be integrated to optimize EV operations, including battery management, charging station monitoring, vehicle maintenance and vehicle operations data.
Fleets will be able to identify which routes to electrify, optimize fueling to ensure operational readiness at low cost, and integrate vehicle and charging station management.
ChargePoint is committed to easing the way for businesses and drivers to go electric with one of the largest EV charging networks and a portfolio of charging solutions available. So far, more than 92 million charging sessions have been delivered, with drivers plugging into the ChargePoint network every two seconds or less.
Pasquale Romano, President and CEO of ChargePoint, said, “The future of fleets is electric, and integrating charging solutions with the many business systems already in place in today’s depots is essential to successful electrification.
“Adding ViriCiti’s vehicle management capabilities to our fleet portfolio allows ChargePoint to deliver more functionality to eBus and commercial fleet operators, while remaining open to integration with existing telematics systems. The combined solution underscores the importance of software to EV charging and will ensure operational readiness at low cost as fleets of all types across North America and Europe continue to electrify.”
ViriCiti has established market share in North America and Europe with approximately 150 fleet operators, 3,500 connected vehicles and 2,500 networked ports under management. Its customers include Arriva, Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe, Chicago Transit Authority, GILLIG, Keolis, King County Metro, Metropolitan Transit Authority (New York), PicNic, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority and Toronto Transit Commission.
Freek Dielissen, CEO of ViriCiti, said: “Our mission over the last nine years has been to help fleet operators manage their electric operations. Today, zero-emission transportation is at a tipping point, and we are excited to join EV charging leader ChargePoint, integrate our complementary offerings and tap into the resources that will enable the electrification of fleets at a faster pace across North America and Europe.”
ChargePoint acquired ViriCiti for a total purchase price of approximately €75 million in cash, subject to adjustments.