Bosch charging services: Entry ticket to more than 150,000 charging points across Europe

• From Andalusia to the Arctic Circle: Access to one of the largest charging networks in Europe
• All-round carefree package: more than 150,000 charging stations in one app
• Charging network is growing continuously: 200,000 charging points by the end of 2020
• Charging more than electricity: Location-based services make charging an experience

Stuttgart - uncomplicated charging. These two words bring to the point what e-drivers long for. You want to quickly find a free charging station, log in without access and password confusion, pay for the charging current just as easily and use the waiting time wisely. The reality is different: on average, drivers of electric cars have up to six charging apps on their smartphones and they handle up to five charging cards (sources: UScale, NewMotion). In addition, the prices of charging stations sometimes vary greatly and users are annoyed by incomprehensible car electricity tariffs and a variety of payment methods. Bosch has set itself the goal of ending the charging chaos. The company develops charging services that now give drivers access to one of the largest charging networks in Europe. You can use your smartphone to find more than 150,000 charging points in 16 European countries. Registering, charging and paying at the charging stations works with just a few clicks - including cost transparency. “With our charging services, we are developing the universal ticket to one of the largest networks of charging stations in Europe. We are making electric mobility even more suitable for everyday use, ”says Elmar Pritsch, Chairman of the Connected Mobility Solutions division at Robert Bosch GmbH. Bosch offers its charging solutions to both end customers and companies. With new location-based services, the charging process is also a personalized experience. Charging and paying at the charging stations works with just a few clicks - including cost transparency. “With our charging services, we are developing the universal ticket to one of the largest networks of charging stations in Europe. We are making electric mobility even more suitable for everyday use, ”says Elmar Pritsch, Chairman of the Connected Mobility Solutions division at Robert Bosch GmbH. Bosch offers its charging solutions to both end customers and companies. With new location-based services, the charging process is also a personalized experience. Charging and paying at the charging stations works with just a few clicks - including cost transparency. “With our charging services, we are developing the universal ticket to one of the largest networks of charging stations in Europe. We are making electric mobility even more suitable for everyday use, ”says Elmar Pritsch, Chairman of the Connected Mobility Solutions division at Robert Bosch GmbH. Bosch offers its charging solutions to both end customers and companies. With new location-based services, the charging process is also a personalized experience. Chairman of the Board of Directors Connected Mobility Solutions at Robert Bosch GmbH. Bosch offers its charging solutions to both end customers and companies. With new location-based services, the charging process is also a personalized experience. Chairman of the Board of Directors Connected Mobility Solutions at Robert Bosch GmbH. Bosch offers its charging solutions to both end customers and companies. With new location-based services, the charging process is also a personalized experience.

Charging station finder via app

A close-knit charging network is a key requirement for drivers to use a Stromer. The energy association BDEW already had 27,730 public and partially public charging points in March 2020 throughout Germany. However, the charging cards of almost 200 car electricity providers and operators often only work at certain charging stations. There is also a confusion of terms of use, connector types and charging performance. Bosch's Europe-wide charging network currently has more than 150,000 charging points that drivers can access via a central app platform. The company concludes contracts with the operators and provides a technical connection to the charging points, for example via roaming. In Germany, more than 27,500 charging options are already connected. For e-drivers this means: With Bosch's own “Charge My EV” smartphone app or connected providers such as “Clever Laden”, you can find free charging stations around the clock - whether in the neighborhood or on the go. The Bosch charging network is also growing continuously: By the end of 2020, around 200,000 charging points are to be integrated across Europe.

Loading becomes more relaxed

In Germany alone there were 288 car electricity tariffs in May (source: EuPD Research, status: 05/2020). For motorists, the sheer selection often ends in a tariff jungle - especially since numerous providers are currently switching from flat rates to billing according to kilowatt hours. Bosch relieves users of the annoying research work and clearly lists what charging on individual charging stations costs and which conditions of use apply. In the future, there will be no nasty surprises when it comes to billing. The company also wants to end handling multiple charging cards. After all, almost every second driver of an electric car (45 percent) uses two to four different cards to register at charging stations; 15 percent have at least five cards (source: NewMotion). To use the charging services from Bosch, a one-time registration via smartphone app is sufficient. This finally makes spontaneous charging possible without a previous, complex registration at a charging station that has not yet been used. “Charging has to be easy and seamless for everyone. The intelligent charging services from Bosch are an important key for widespread acceptance of electromobility, ”says Pritsch. By the way, the solution from Bosch also simplifies payment: users pay with the previously stored credit card and get an overview of their charging costs every month via the app. The intelligent charging services from Bosch are an important key for widespread acceptance of electromobility, ”says Pritsch. By the way, the solution from Bosch also simplifies payment: users pay with the previously stored credit card and get an overview of their charging costs every month via the app. The intelligent charging services from Bosch are an important key for widespread acceptance of electromobility, ”says Pritsch. By the way, the solution from Bosch also simplifies payment: users pay with the previously stored credit card and get an overview of their charging costs every month via the app.

From shop to experience

“In future, charging will be more than just charging up with electricity. Our key to this is a new way of personalizing the entire charging process, ”says Pritsch. With Convenience Charging, the company is developing a networked navigation and charging solution in which infotainment and electric drive work closely together. This enables automobile manufacturers and providers of electric fleets to stand out from the competition with the necessary evil of charging through a new user experience. With convenience charging, drivers of electric vehicles know at all times how far they can still go with their current battery charge and where they can charge their vehicle. If a charging station targeted on the planned route is occupied, the charging stop is automatically rescheduled and the navigation adjusted accordingly. Route and charging station recommendations are also tailored to the driver's individual preferences. For example, you can specify whether loading should be particularly quick or inexpensive. Requests for charging stations at restaurants or with free WiFi can also be filed. Convenience charging will also make better use of the waiting time while charging, because drivers can, for example, have purchases delivered directly to the charging station or redeem coupons and discount vouchers for adjacent restaurants or shopping centers. Another highlight: thanks to machine learning processes, the navigation and loading solution is constantly learning. Recommendations and individual services become more accurate with each charging process and charging is no longer just a mandatory event.

Easy loading - also for fleets and companies

Bosch's solutions for charging electric cars are often also behind the charging station finders of automobile manufacturers, fleet operators and providers of mobility services. You integrate the charging network into your own apps or directly into the infotainment system of vehicles using a white label solution. For example, a company's charging stations can also be added on its own premises, where employees or customers can charge their vehicles. Bosch takes over the connection of the charging points, the management of the partners, the billing of the charging processes and provides the necessary IT infrastructure.