Electric vehicle (EV) charge point operator (CPO), Believ, has acquired the assets in Switch EV, a business specialising in cloud-based charge point management, to give the CPO total flexibility in meeting the future EV infrastructure needs of local authorities, businesses, landowners, and EV drivers.
Switch EV’s scalable platform has been designed to provide intuitive, real-time charger data to support CPOs in increasing uptime and reducing operating expenses through proactive monitoring and predictive maintenance. The Software as a Service (SaaS) business’ expertise will also support the development of Believ’s EV driver app.
This acquisition enables Believ to roadmap future data management
functionality, such as energy trading, Plug & Charge and vehicle to grid
capabilities. It also means Believ will be able to quickly respond to and build charge point management and usage functionality in response to future market needs.
Guy Bartlett, Believ CEO, says the acquisition is about creating the building blocks for excellence in EV charging management solutions to deliver the utmost in driver convenience: “Convenience and seamless experience is how we are going to persuade more drivers to make the transition. More EV drivers on the road helps us deliver on our mission for cleaner air for all.
“We are excited for the opportunities ahead and the role we will play in supporting EV uptake.”
As part of the acquisition, Switch EV Founder and CEO Marc Mültin and four key members of the engineering team have joined Believ, bringing their expertise to further strengthen innovation and future strategies.
Dr. Marc Mültin says he is delighted to help support Believ in its mission for cleaner air for all: “We bring decades of experience, and being co-authors and trainers of global charging communication standards (OCPP 2.0.1, ISO 15118) helps to ensure the very best levels of data communication functionality.
“We want EV drivers to experience a smooth and efficient charging process. With improved communication between vehicles, charge points and our cloud-based platform, we will help Believ make it easier for users to interact with the network, paving the way for a more efficient and connected charging ecosystem. Together, we ensure continued, long-term excellence in how we serve partners and EV drivers.”
