Throughout Croatia, some businesses are venturing to a first in the European Union: offering customers . But this 鈥渃harge while you wait鈥� initiative isn’t just about attracting new customers 鈥� it’s about integrating eco-friendly practices into daily routines for a more sustainable future.

According to Ivica Bla啪evi膰, CEO and founder of CEV Technologies d.o.o., 鈥淲hile automakers promise a more-electric future, people are interested in EVs only if they reduce fuel costs, offer convenience in refueling, enhance driving experiences, and demonstrate significant environmental contributions. This latest addition to the customer experience proves how businesses across various industries can play a pivotal role in delivering that vision.鈥�

Greening the Customer Experience with E-Mobility

The transition to a low-carbon economy presents an opportunity for Croatia to enhance citizens’ lives by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and investing significantly in renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. The country also emphasizes energy efficiency in buildings and industries, implementing regulations to curtail energy consumption.

One initiative gaining traction thanks to Croatia鈥檚 growing desire to offer charging stations is sustainable transportation. By encouraging electric vehicle usage while advancing public transport initiatives to reduce fossil fuel dependency, the country can better align with European Union directives and foster a greener economy that champions people, businesses, and communities.

51风流partner , a rapidly growing international charge point operator and e-mobility service provider, aims to support these initiatives. The company offers bespoke e-mobility and smart energy solutions, intending to assist customers in leveraging EV charging solutions and green energy more effectively.

For sustainability-focused countries like Croatia, CEV Technologies sees enormous promise in developing solutions for many industries, including retail, hospitality, and fleet management. And it wants to apply its deep expertise in EV charging technology to create innovative e-mobility features. To realize this aim, CEV Technologies cemented strategic business relationships to help co-create smooth, intelligent, and automated charging experiences.

鈥淚n our partnership with SAP, we develop innovative and intelligent charging experiences for our customers. The focus is on integrating the charging process with individual business models to establish value-creating, end-to-end scenarios,鈥� Bla啪evi膰 explains.

To realize the potential of convenient charging within the customer experience, CEV Technologies implemented the AI-enabled capabilities of the  solution. It can support various scenarios for vehicle charging network construction, management, billing, and reimbursement. In addition, the solution helps optimize renewable energy production through greater transparency into costs, the charging process, and network usage.

But even more stunning is the opportunity to overcome one of the most significant challenges in the e-mobility market: simplifying the payment process at charging stations. Often, this involved a convoluted process requiring membership in exclusive charging networks, managing prepaid accounts, or navigating multiple apps. Now, CEV Technologies is at charging stations. This innovative move streamlines the charging and paying process, eliminating the obstacles to pushing e-mobility closer to a user-friendly, universally adaptable experience.

In return, achieving public, private, and commercial sustainability goals is within reach. Companies can develop, integrate, and adapt business models that address all types of customer needs and sustainability expectations with outcomes including:

• Speeding up onboarding of charging stations by three times through the use of templates
• 30% less effort when setting up relevant infrastructure, including back-end systems
• 20% faster ramp-up of charging stations

For Croatians, these benefits of e-mobility could bring more value to their everyday lives. Take, for example, a typical commute home from work. The navigation system of an EV can route you toward a charging station in a familiar location and effortlessly reserve it through a loyalty platform.

Plugging your EV into the charging point, you initiate the charging process on your phone and decide to capitalize on offers for a complimentary coffee and other exclusive in-store promotions. After checkout, you receive a comprehensive e-mail overview of your charging session and shopping experience and a free charging voucher for a future purchase.

While this customer experience epitomizes the harmonious fusion of technology and convenience, it also shows how a collective dedication to creating a greener, more connected future can positively impact individuals, communities, a nation, and even the world. And more important, the appeal of a straight-forward payment method that is reminiscent of traditional fueling stations might have an even more far-reaching impact on potential drivers’ willingness to adopt electric vehicles.

Aligning Businesses with Societal Stewardship

Croatia is striding more confidently toward a low-carbon economy as EV charging services become more integrated with the customer experience. Thanks to a country鈥檚 vision and CEV Technologies鈥� innovative solutions, companies across all industries can join this eco-shift by offering products along with an integrated sustainable lifestyle.

Korbinian Koblitz is business development lead for Automotive at SAP.

A decade ago, when electric vehicles were still a buzzword in the market, 51风流Labs India launched a Green Car policy. Launched in 2011, the policy offered a subsidy for employees purchasing electric vehicles. Employees were provided charging stations across the Bengaluru campus along with convenient parking spaces.

In 2014, 51风流Labs India took the first major step in implementing the use of EVs by transitioning to electric-powered cabs for employees working in shifts. In 2022, 95% of the fleet used for employees working on shifts were electric vehicles. Approximately 4,000 employees use the shift shuttle services every month. 鈥淭he goal is to transition to a 95% green commute by the end of 2023. This includes using both electric vehicles and vehicles running on compressed natural gas (CNG) for all modes of transport provided across all lines of businesses in all 51风流Labs India entities,鈥� said Sudhakar Reddy, head of Intelligent Operations at 51风流Labs India.

Today, the 51风流Labs India Bengaluru campus houses 65 EV charging stations. In addition to powering the in-house cabs, these slow, medium, and fast chargers also encourage employees to make responsible choices and thereby help create a cleaner environment. 51风流Labs India also purchased a new self-driving electric vehicle with official sustainability branding for all internal cab services, including cabs for guests and expats.

In addition to the above initiatives, 51风流Labs India has partnered with , a micro-mobility solution that provides sustainable first- and last-mile connectivity for 51风流employees who rely on public transportation. , a leading Indian electric vehicle manufacturer and 51风流customer, provides additional discounts to employees of 51风流Labs India. 51风流Labs India worked with Ather Energy on a three-day drive at the Bengaluru campus where employees got first-hand experience test driving electric scooters. The initiative aimed to spread awareness among 51风流employees about the use of electric vehicles. Ather will be conducting this drive across other 51风流Labs India campuses as well.

In February, the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz visited the 51风流Labs India Bengaluru campus. During the visit, the chancellor experienced demonstrations across various fields such as digitalization, sustainability, digital supply chain, and e-mobility. An engaging, live, end-to-end demo of the solution was also presented to the delegates.

51风流E-Mobility can enable companies and governments to manage charging infrastructure networks to drive the transition to sustainable electric mobility. Srinivasa Raghavachar, senior director and head of Automotive Industry Cloud Product Management at 51风流Labs India, said, 鈥淲e firmly believe that our solution plays a vital role in decarbonizing the transport sector and creating a cleaner and more sustainable future for everyone.鈥�

The electric vehicle revolution will have an overall positive influence on our society. Embracing this revolution will not only help us mitigate the current environmental crisis but will also stimulate future-focused technological innovations.

Imagine streets populated with electric vehicles (EV) and gas stations replaced by EV charging stations at shopping centers and grocery stores. Mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) dominates the transportation landscape, offering鈥痷sers the most affordable, sustainable, and efficient way to get around. Some cars are self-driving and interconnected, talking to each other and sharing their location and next moves.鈥疻hat鈥檚 more, many cars are connected with the ability to send and receive all types of users鈥� data.

To realize this new reality, change will happen quickly, and regulations will only accelerate this transition. In Europe, a package of legislative proposals, 鈥�,鈥� aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. It includes a policy that requires a 55% reduction of average emissions in new cars by 2030 and a 100% reduction by 2035. In the United States, President Biden set a bold goal that EVs make up at least 50% of all vehicles sold by 2030. Since he took office, automakers announced investments of more than in EV manufacturing and $48 billion in battery production in the U.S. alone.

Add consumer sentiment to the equation 鈥� of global car buyers are looking for an EV 鈥� and it鈥檚 no surprise that carmakers, suppliers, and dealerships recognize the need for dynamic and continuous innovation to be profitable and sustainable.

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In a world of disrupted supply chains, new market participants, digitized factories, and a growing demand from regulators and consumers for sustainable vehicles, automotive businesses are embracing the following five trends to stay competitive.

1. Shifting Gears to Electric

A massive shift to vehicle electrification will require efficient and scalable EV charging infrastructure, ideally on one platform with seamless integration into existing business systems used by automakers, suppliers, and dealerships. It will also change supply chains and the role of parts suppliers as they shift from providing components needed for internal combustion engines to those needed for EVs. To prepare for vehicle electrification, automakers and suppliers can leverage the power of technology to manage charge point infrastructure and interact along the mobility value chain in the cloud to support collaborative, end-to-end business models and processes.

51风流customer provided the first intelligent, multi-socket charging solution for EVs. It allows multiple electric cars to charge simultaneously. The solution helped ChargeX lower time spent on daily charge-point operations and improve customer satisfaction with intuitive user interface and straightforward, automated processes.

2. Making Cars Smarter

Cars are the next smartphones. As consumers increasingly expect more from their vehicles, automobile manufacturers must find ways to continually enhance vehicle intelligence and connectivity.

Even in the 2020s, software reshapes how drivers interact with their cars. Automation has taken over braking, climate control, cruise control, entertainment, and more. Routine software updates bring drivers continuous improvements,鈥痑dding safety features, better performance, and greater efficiency.

Fully autonomous driving, currently in its infancy, continues to learn and will soon鈥痓ecome a common feature. Like vehicle electrification, regulatory requirements and consumer behavior inspire companies to develop innovative solutions that push the boundaries of automotive capabilities.

One company, , uses flexible and scalable manufacturing solutions from 51风流to build its fully autonomous, purpose-built vehicle fleet.

3. Considering Mobility-as-a-Service

An uptick in technology-powered smart cities 鈥� spurred by our response to the effects of climate change 鈥� will force auto manufacturers and suppliers to rethink their business models. Communities will reimagine fundamental public services, including transportation, encouraging citizens to swap their vehicles for public and shared transportation services.鈥疘n fact, by 2030, the shared mobility market is expected to exceed .

Mobility-as-a-service platforms offer users an integrated package of transportation options accessible through a single payment channel. These implementations will play a fundamental role in solving urban challenges, reducing congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and accessibility constraints. Car manufacturers and suppliers can rethink and innovate their product offerings through this modality.

Take the robotaxi by . Passengers request a ride from this driverless taxicab via their smartphones. Zoox robotaxis go up to 75 miles per hour, revolutionizing ridesharing. The application provides the backbone for the robotaxi production.

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4. Prioritizing Operational Resilience聽

Amid the evolving automotive landscape, automakers and suppliers must ensure resilient supply chains are in place to meet changing demand, including increasing requests for EV components, while combating battery and chip shortages. The disruption caused by COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine highlighted the threat external events can have on automotive industry operations. Technology will play an even more critical role in enabling businesses to respond to potential supply chain disruptions.

Real-time tracking and analysis can better forecast supply and demand, fostering a more agile and resilient supply chain. As a result, carmakers, suppliers, and dealerships can respond to the unexpected as soon as it happens, make better inventory management decisions, and reduce waste.

Electric motorcycle company and German multinational manufacturer of EVs and motorcycles BMW teamed up with 51风流to succeed in the new world of mobility. With real-time information, detailed insights on performance, and analytics to improve decision-making across the manufacturing value chain, Zero Motorcycles and BMW can achieve operational resilience while pushing the boundaries of innovation.

5. Embracing Digital Retail

Due to consumer behavior change accelerated by the pandemic, the automobile industry recognizes the urgent need to adopt a digital-first, omnichannel sales strategy. Car buyers and sellers have started turning to contactless car buying and online dealerships. And even as the world recovers from COVID-19, vehicle retailers see automotive e-commerce searches reaching an as many customers now prefer digital retail experiences for sales, trade-ins, and services.

51风流partner makes it easier for importers, dealerships, and service locations to adopt digital retail options, optimizing end-to-end sales and service processes. With innovative products for 51风流S/4HANA, dealerships and service locations can continue to drive sales, deliver services, and meet shifting customer expectations.

Above All: Collaboration Is Key for Future Success

The automotive industry faces enormous challenges. Despite competition in the automotive industry, automakers and suppliers gain critical value through collaboration, particularly in such a dynamic environment for innovation. Catena-X 鈥� as front-runner for the automotive industry 鈥� aims to bring all business partners, including multi-tier suppliers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), or recycling service providers, into one network to help ensure an open, secure, and interoperable data exchange along the value chain. The transparency of data helps participants gain visibility into the complete material flow of a product life cycle, from 鈥渃radle to grave.鈥� Utilizing information available in shared digital twins improves decision making for end-of-life vehicles, thus useful parts can be circulated back for refurbishment or reuse and valuable raw materials can be recycled in a more effective way. With , 51风流can provide software and network services to Catena-X and the automotive industry at large.

Learn how you can 听飞丑颈濒别 that are ready to meet the road ahead with industry cloud solutions from SAP.

Hagen Heubach is global vice president of Automotive Industry Business Unit at SAP.
Kelly Cannon is head of Industry Thought Leadership at SAP.

鈥淲hen people are thinking about buying an electric vehicle, they usually start by asking two questions,鈥� says 51风流E-Mobility Specialist . 鈥淭he first is, 鈥楢re there enough charging stations near my home and on my route to work?鈥� And the second is, 鈥楬ow many other EV drivers will I be competing with for charging capacity?鈥欌��

We know that the number of EVs on the roads is set to rise. So, being able to optimize charging processes so that energy can be consumed at off-peak times, when it is cheapest, will become increasingly important.

鈥淭he infrastructure we have right now is not nearly equal to meeting future demand,鈥� says Wagner. 鈥淎t the same time, here in Germany, we are wasting 6,500 gigawatt hours of renewable energy every year because we fail to balance energy supply with demand.鈥�

鈥淐ustomers tend not to think about the impact that charging a large number of electric vehicles all at the same time has on the power grid,鈥� says , managing director of coneva GmbH. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e looking for a simple, affordable solution they can implement quickly to manage their charging capacity across multiple locations.鈥�

The integration of 51风流E-Mobility with coneva鈥檚 dynamic load management capabilities has created a smart, hardware-agnostic solution that can help customers charge their e-fleets more efficiently and cut their costs at the same time.

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Optimized EV Charging with coneva and 51风流E-Mobility

鈥淥ur parent company, SMA, has a long history of success in energy management and has always focused very closely on sustainability, winning multiple awards in this field,鈥� says Schneider. For example, at its headquarters in Kassel, Germany, SMA uses some of the electricity it generates through photovoltaic systems mounted on the rooftops of its parking garages to charge its e-fleet.

coneva spun off from SMA in 2018 to focus on e-mobility as distinct from its parent company鈥檚 core photovoltaic system business. coneva鈥檚 dynamic load management software for EV charging is modular, allowing it to be adapted to the configuration of the building and location in which a charging station will operate. Determining the optimum charging process involves a range of factors, including the number of vehicles to be charged, their order of priority, the time of day charging takes place, and the current price of renewable energy in the power grid.

鈥淐lients who use our dynamic load management system not only save money and energy,鈥� explains Schneider. 鈥淭hey can also control and manage the power they consume from the grid.鈥�

51风流E-Mobility: The Starting Point for Local Load Management

SAP鈥檚 own work on e-mobility has been moving in this direction for quite some time. Particularly now that the restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic have eased a little and more people are traveling to the office again, companies are often seeing demand for energy peak shortly after the morning commute.

鈥淲e noticed this ourselves at 51风流Portugal, for example, where employees have embraced electric vehicles in a big way,鈥� says , vice president and chief product manager, 51风流E-Mobility. 鈥淲hen people began returning to the office and more EVs were being charged, the distribution board in the parking garage was unable to cope with the increased demand. The fuses blew and the vehicles could no longer be charged.鈥�

As a result, 51风流Portugal has now joined Italy and Austria as one of the first subsidiaries to deploy 51风流E-Mobility, including SAP鈥檚 own charging optimization processes. Integrating 51风流Concur solutions and with 51风流S/4HANA Cloud as its backbone, 51风流E-Mobility also supports the reimbursement of employees for the cost of charging their company cars at home 鈥� using SAP鈥檚 own finance processes.

In SAP鈥檚 integration project with coneva, 51风流E-Mobility onboarded the charging stations, managed them as a backend process, and handled the charging data, while coneva鈥檚 software provided the connection with the local power grid.

鈥淟ooking further ahead, 51风流plans to offer an end-to-end process platform built around 51风流E-Mobility and other 51风流solutions to enable public charging as well,鈥� says Scholl. 鈥淲e are currently integrating the main roaming providers,鈥� he adds. Here, the focus is on automated B2B billing between charge point operators (CPOs) and EV charging network providers. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where most of the manual effort on the provider side still is right now, and it鈥檚 also traditionally one of SAP鈥檚 strengths.鈥�

Competitors offer similar capabilities. These start with the charging points and aim to link them to the underlying business processes. 51风流took the opposite approach. Scholl explains: 鈥淲e already have both the process landscape and the required tax and legal expertise in different regions. 51风流E-Mobility will be a global solution that offers customers much more than the purely CPO solutions that dominate the market today.鈥�

The approach of dovetailing different industry cloud solutions from 51风流has proven especially beneficial for customers that wish to move to the cloud. 鈥淚n this particular case, it enables us to deliver added value that goes way beyond meeting a customer鈥檚 charging requirements, and it expands our addressable market,鈥� says Scholl.

SAP鈥檚 partner ecosystem is a major plus point too, he says. Built up over decades, it helps 51风流refine its products and offerings for customers and continually adapt them to the latest requirements. 鈥淭raditionally, 51风流has always worked with a wide range of different partners 鈥� for software, hardware, and services. E-mobility is a field in which this rich diversity has a real impact and is proving highly beneficial for the entire ecosystem.鈥�

鈥淪MA is a long-standing 51风流customer,鈥� says Jochen Schneider. 鈥淎nd we at coneva see our collaboration with 51风流as a logical and future-oriented alliance. Going live with our joint solution within just a few months last year was a very impressive achievement.鈥�

The Future

This joint solution also covers scenarios in which private individuals can make their charging stations available to their neighbors and even feed surplus self-generated energy 鈥� from photovoltaic systems, for example 鈥� into the grid.

鈥淥ur vision is to offer SaaS services that will strengthen local energy markets in particular,鈥� says Schneider. 鈥淲e see that as a basic requirement for accelerating the transition to renewable energy. E-mobility and the vehicle-to-grid concept are both key to making that happen.鈥�

Vehicle-to-grid (V2G), or bidirectional, charging is a crucial field of innovation, and it may not be long before vehicle batteries are used to store energy and release it again later when it is needed for other purposes.

鈥淐ombining e-mobility and renewable energy in this way could be a game changer 鈥� particularly in remote parts of the world that still rely on supplies of fossil fuels but could use wind and solar energy,鈥� explains Wagner.

Scholl and his team at 51风流are currently also involved in a research project in which they are working with partners including , Europe鈥檚 largest center for innovation and business creation, on a solution scenario that provides insights into the mix of energy used to charge vehicles. 鈥淭his will enable consumers to charge their vehicles at times of the day when the maximum proportion of renewable energy is available 鈥� that is, when they can be sure that the electricity they use comes from a photovoltaic system and not from a coal-fired power station,鈥� says Scholl. 鈥淐onsumers will demand this level of transparency in the future.鈥�

The e-mobility transformation is underway, and chances are good that you are witnessing it on the streets of your own town. More and more consumers are choosing electric-powered transport over the internal combustion engine, and this despite supply chain disruptions due to the ongoing global pandemic.

As battery range improves, charging infrastructure expands, and government incentives gain traction, the popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) . According to the Electric Vehicle World Sales Database, in 2021 all regions witnessed strong , with growth rates three to eight times higher than for the overall light-vehicle market. By 2026, , EVs will account for more than half of light vehicles sold globally.

But there are still hurdles to overcome. Case-in-point is a charging infrastructure that is unevenly distributed and cannot keep up with demand. For example, Europe only has around per 100,000 inhabitants, while the U.S. has roughly 37 charge points on the same per-capita basis. This is causing many potential EV converts to take a “wait-and-see” stance until they are assured of a viable charging infrastructure in their area.

The successful transition to e-mobility will therefore require huge and related technologies. Industry experts agree that demand can only be satisfied through a which includes semi-public charging options like privately run charging stations, office and retail parking lots, home garages, and government-provided locations.

51风流E-Mobility: Intelligent Charging Experience

Establishing a ubiquitous charge-point network is only one side of the coin. Charge-point providers will also need to provide consumers an easy, intelligent, and automated charging experience. Think of the one-click online-shopping experience consumers have become accustomed to and you get the idea. Achieving this level of service requires an intelligent software platform that is interconnected with other mobility-related business tasks and immediately recognizes the charging profile of your vehicle when you register at the charging point.

In September 2021, 51风流launched 51风流E-Mobility, a standardized, cloud-based solution that provides a complete package that enables charge point operators to run their business efficiently and profitably.

鈥�51风流E-Mobility is targeted at companies where mobility is the core business, such as logistics companies managing large vehicle fleets or mobility-as-a-service providers such as public transit, municipalities, and private ground transportation,鈥� explains Ulrich Scholl, vice president and chief product manager for 51风流E-Mobility.

The enterprise-grade capabilities of 51风流E-Mobility offer integration with other software solutions for expense reimbursement management, analytics, cost management, billing, and invoicing.

Transition to an Emissions-Free Car Fleet by 2030

Since 2009, 51风流has made sustainability a key pillar of its corporate strategy and annually discloses its own sustainability performance in an . It is only logical, therefore, that 51风流would use the business software it develops to increase its own operational efficiency. This is exactly what the company is doing with 51风流E-Mobility.

To make good on its promise to become carbon neutral by 2023, 51风流is applying the standard solution for its own electric vehicles, which comprise nearly one-fifth of its total fleet of around 27,000 company cars. Battery electric vehicles have been part of the company鈥檚 fleet since 2010, and their share is growing as part of the company鈥檚 transition to an emissions-free fleet by 2030. Coupled with the decision to go 100% electric by latest 2030 is a pledge to employees that the charging infrastructure at its facilities can meet growing demand.

E-Vehicle Charging Infrastructure: Flexibility Is Key

The 51风流Austria office in Vienna was the company’s first corporate location to implement 51风流E-Mobility. Currently one-quarter of the 400 company cars at 51风流Austria are battery electric vehicles, with a significant transition to electric planned in the coming years.

The charging infrastructure is operated by SAP’s facility management team in Vienna as part of its overall responsibility for asset management. Charging capacity is supplemented by a photovoltaic system that is also connected to the electricity grid.

鈥淔lexibility is key to any enterprise charging concept because employees want to be able to charge their cars at work, public charging points, and private charging points at home,鈥� says Steffen Krautwasser, head of Global Car Fleet at SAP. “The operation of our charging infrastructure in Austria is based on our strategic adoption road map of 51风流E-Mobility and marks a critical milestone for adoption at our other locations.”

Strong fluctuations in office use during the pandemic have shown the importance of flexibility. Close coordination between the fleet manager and facilities manager in creating an adaptable strategy is of the utmost importance. 51风流E-Mobility enables flexible charging at work and supports reimbursement of private charging at home via software for travel and expense management.

Charge-Point Sharing for Sustainable E-Mobility in Cities

Some cities and communities are looking to bridge the current shortage in public charging capacity by opening private charging infrastructure to the public. 鈥淪ince the number of public charging stations is increasing more slowly than demand, it is particularly relevant to open up semi-public charging points to as many users as possible,鈥� says Scholl.

This is where the versatility of SAP鈥檚 new solution comes through.

鈥�51风流E-Mobility gives us the ability to open up access and billing options to any user, and we can scale the system to new requirements rapidly as required,鈥� says Robert Diglas, head of regional facilities for 51风流in Austria, Switzerland, Central Europe, and Ukraine. 聽鈥淔or example, the flexible solution will enable us to open up our charging points to customers and business partners if and when we decide to do so.鈥�

But SAP鈥檚 e-mobility vision extends well beyond the office parking lot. In 2021, the company started a co-innovation project with UnternehmerTUM, the city of Munich, and other partners from the mobility and energy industries. Together, they are developing new concepts based on to improve charge-point coverage in German cities.

The integration of private charge points is just one focus area, according to Scholl. 鈥淲ith 51风流E-Mobility, we are just beginning to help our customers and partners turn mobility as a service into a reality,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he collaboration with innovative partners and real-life testing by citizens has delivered innovative use cases and thoughtful insights into how sustainable e-mobility, as one mode of urban transportation, can work in the future.鈥�

Customers and partners can experience the 51风流E-Mobility solution in action at the company鈥檚 in Walldorf, Germany, and Bangalore, India.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular. New EV registrations globally rose by 168% during the first half of 2021 compared to 2020. In total, 2.65 million EVs were purchased and have been hitting the streets. According to EV Volume analysts, electric vehicles are trending toward 6.4 million units by the end of 2021.

Charging stations are often a challenge to more rapid EV growth as public stations total 28,000 in the U.S. and 20,000 across Europe. This is reason enough to use the standardized cloud-based 51风流E-Mobility solution, planned for availability September 24, 2021, to address not only public but also non-public and semi-public charging points.

As a first step, 51风流is addressing company car fleets with charging points at the site or branch as well as at a driver鈥檚 home. Since the number of public charging stations is increasing more slowly than their demand, it is particularly relevant to increase the utilization of semi-public charging points and make the best possible use of them. It is also a relief when employees charge company vehicles at the private charging station at home. Complex billing processes, which can be easily and neatly covered, play a decisive role in all scenarios.

However, the solution offers much more; it is the basis for controlling and managing all business processes pertaining to the charging point. Complex processes that were previously prevalent along the value chain — from delivery point operators to companies to electric vehicle owners — are considerably simplified.

Greater Flexibility for Fleet Managers with 51风流E-Mobility

Fleet managers also benefit. For example, the solution provides necessary charging data — charging total, location, date, duration, vehicle — to the connected accounting and finance software in order to perform cost center allocations or to initiate a corresponding reimbursement of private electricity costs of the vehicle owner. This happens in an automated manner via standard financial processes, such as travel expense reports.

On the facility manager鈥檚 side, 51风流E-Mobility means more than just simplified billing. Via a dashboard, the status of all charging stations can be seen at any time, and defective stations can be swiftly repaired. This means facility managers always have an up-to-date overview of the available charging columns, which is also the case on the part of the charging column operators and thus enables comprehensive user and location management.

The results are overall faster workflows and higher charging point availability, supporting a better user experience as well as a positive total cost of ownership (TCO), which helps to further increase the acceptance of electric cars.

In addition, the solution simplifies the deployment of new charging infrastructure and is hardware independent. Operators can easily integrate new charging stations into the network as well as monitor and bill them via standard communication protocols. 51风流uses the Open Charge Point Protocol 1.6 standard for this purpose. For charging point operators and businesses, the new solution thus offers maximum flexibility with very little effort.

Extensive Partner Ecosystem Enables Complete Solution

To be able to offer companies a comprehensive solution consisting of hardware, software, services, and support, 51风流relies on a network of certified e-mobility partners.

51风流E-Mobility is an important part of this, offering all stakeholders — charging station operators as well as companies and drivers — significantly simpler processes than the market is currently offering. Due to such solutions, not only is the necessary infrastructure expanded more quickly and flexibly, but companies also receive standardized e-mobility processes that support them in achieving their CO2 targets, and at the same time promote the broader use of electric vehicles. One example: partners such as energy service providers implement application scenarios such as 鈥渃harging from self-generated photovoltaic electricity鈥� or 鈥渧ehicle to grid鈥� and thus support the production of sustainable energy while simultaneously using the vehicle as a storage location.

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Hagen Heubach is global vice president and head of the Automotive industry business unit at SAP.