Europe's Charging Network Is Growing: Charging Stations in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, France and Switzerland Now Available for Use With Intercharge

BERLIN, GERMANY--(Marketwired - Oct 19, 2015) - The Berlin-based company Hubject GmbH has extended its intercharge charging network with the addition of several hundred charging stations in more European target markets. The charging points of its northern European partners Fortum, Grønn Kontakt, VIRTA. and CleanCharge, the Swiss companies Swisscom and Energie Service Biel/Bienne, and the French operator Freshmile are now linked via the Hubject platform. More than 190 companies already rely on the real-time connection of their charging stations and customer-friendly access for electric car drivers via smartphone apps, RFID cards, NFC or plug & charge with intercharge. Further European markets will be opened up by the end of the year.

The activities of Hubject and its partner companies are always pursuing a common goal: the creation of customer-friendly solutions, which allow electric car drivers to easily find charging stations across Europe and use them with a single EV electricity contract. "Together with our partners, we focus on sustainable and therefore scalable eRoaming solutions," said Thomas Daiber, CEO of Hubject GmbH. "Communication between the various charging station systems, the Hubject platform and the electric vehicle owners' smartphone is fully automated. As a result, transaction costs across the entire value chain are minimised and new digital solutions are created. We are delighted that charging electric vehicles using eRoaming across Northern Europe, Switzerland and France is now even simpler through our strong partnerships."

Europe's charging network, intercharge, is especially charaterised by the diversity of its partners. Along with large energy providers and car manufacturers, small and medium-sized companies, service card companies and startups also rely on intercharge.

EV charging with intercharge in Europe's northern countries

Fortum Charge & Drive is a leading cloud-based charging business system for EV charging service operators. Charge & Drive is also operating one of the largest smart charging network in Norway, Sweden and Finland. The network consists of over 450 public and semi-public chargers, which will be gradually available through intercharge. Companies such as Nissan, Renault, BMW, and McDonald's have chosen to partner with Fortum Charge & Drive for delivering a high-quality charging experience for electric vehicle drivers.

Helsinki-based Virta. Ltd provides a comprehensive technical platform and related services for EV charging service business. In Finland the company operates a network of 100 AC and DC charging stations and in Switzerland the Swisscharge network runs on Virta's technology. The front-end solution, the Virta mobile application allows a smooth service experience at charging stations. The app also enables EV charging in intercharge compatible charging points across the entire network, including Northern Europe.

The Norwegian company Grønn Kontakt operates a nationwide network of charging stations since 2009. It is onwned by 23 Norwegian grid operators and energy suppliers. The company focuses on public AC and DC chargers, which are now accessible for EV drivers via intercharge.

The Danish charge point operator CleanCharge is now part of the intercharge network. CleanCharge also offers intercharge direct: the direct payment solution for intercharge. intercharge direct allows electric car drivers to charge with a major credit card or a PayPal account without an EV electricity contract.

First charging station operator enables cross-border charging in France

Freshmile is the first French charging station operator to join the intercharge network. The charging stations of this independent startup can be mostly found along the French-German border region. To enable EV driver´s cross-border charging is therefore an additional service which can now be offered by Freshmile due to the connection to the intercharge network.

Strong partners lay the foundations for intercharge in Switzerland

Swisscom Managed Mobility is making use of intercharge services to enter the electric vehicle market. Through a strategic alliance with Hubject, Swisscom Managed Mobility will independently form partnerships in the Swiss and Liechtenstein markets as an intercharge partner in the future, thus further expanding the intercharge network. This will provide electric car drivers easy access to various charging stations throughout Switzerland.

Due to the proximity to France and Germany, cross-border charging is an important requirement of the charging infrastructure for Energie Service Biel/Bienne (ESB). Therefore, the first Swiss charging station within the intercharge network is located in Biel. In addition, electric car drivers are able to charge in Biel even without an EV electricity contract through intercharge direct which offers green electricity for free.

The charging stations of all charge point operators within the intercharge network can be found here. The complete rollout of new charging stations into the intercharge network will be finished in the next weeks.

About Hubject GmbH:
The Hubject GmbH was founded in 2012 by leading companies from the energy, technology and automotive industry. The eRoaming platform of Hubject offers a solution for cross-provider charging of EVs throughout Europe. Thus, the joint venture contributes for the connection of charging infrastructure, service providers and mobility providers. The compatibility mark, intercharge, provides the framework for customer-friendly charging and payment processes. More than 190 European partners are already part of the intercharge family. This includes companies from Scandinavia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria and the Benelux countries. These partnerships show that European interoperability is already working. With the networking project of the German electric mobility showcase programme, Hubject has also demonstrated the technical feasibility of connecting different platforms. This makes Hubject the leading eRoaming provider in Europe. For more information visit www.intercharge.eu and www.hubject.com.

About Virta:
Virta. Ltd. is an innovative provider of EV charging business systems. Currently the company operates its signature EV charging network in Finland as well as Swisscharge in Switzerland. Virta's scalable turnkey solution for EV charging business enables roaming between networks and all kinds of business models from crowdsourcing of EV charging to utility-driven EV infrastructure management. Virta. Ltd was founded in 2013 and is owned by 20 leading Finnish energy companies. http://solutions.virta.fi/en/

About Fortum:
Fortum's purpose is to create energy that improves life for present and future generations. Fortum's expertise is in CO2-free and efficient electricity and heat production. The company also offers energy-related products and expert services to private and industrial customers and energy producers. Fortum's main areas of operation are the Nordic and the Baltic countries, Russia and Poland. In 2014, the annual sales (excluding the divested electricity distribution business) totalled EUR 4.1 billion, and comparable operating profit was EUR 1.1 billion. The company employs approximately 8,000 people. Fortum's share is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. www.fortum.com

About CleanCharge:
CleanCharge is an independent Danish charging station operator and electric mobility service provider. CleanCharge has provided solutions for charging electric vehicles in Denmark, Norway and Sweden since 2009. Visit www.cleancharge.dk for more information.

About Grønn Kontakt:
23 Norwegian grid operators and energy suppliers joined to create Grønn Kontakt as the operator of a national charging network. By connecting single charging stations into one network, the company is building a consistently growing unified infrastructure. Grønn Kontakt offers a full service portfolio including the planning of charging locations, installation, deployment and maintenance of charging stations.

About Freshmile:
Freshmile is a French charging service operator for electric vehicles. Freshmile operates charging stations both for its own and for its clients' account, such as private companies, car park operators and local authorities. Freshmile also develops Freshmile Charge, a mobile application for private customers, allowing them to charge everywhere in France and Europe.

About Swisscom:
Swisscom Managed Mobility belongs to BFM Business Fleet Management AG, a wholly owned subsidiary of Swisscom AG, which has its headquarters in Berne (Switzerland). With a managed fleet of around 3,300 vehicles, it has great expertise on the mobility market. It links mobility with ICT to meet the new mobility needs of the future. www.swisscom.ch/mobility

About Energie Service Biel/Bienne:
Energie Service Biel/Bienne is the leading energy service provider in the area of Biel. 365 days a year, 150 qualified employees take care of electricity, natural gas, heat and telecommunication being provided to the customers of ESB. ESB strongly supports renewable energies out of water and solar energy and campaigns for more power efficiency in everyday life.