ChargePoint and Eaton announce a new collaboration aimed at tackling insufficient EV charging infrastructure

EV charging solutions provider ChargePoint has announced a new collaboration with Eaton, an intelligent power management company. The goal of the collaboration is to improve the availability and effectiveness of charging infrastructure in a way that, as described by Rick Wilmer, CEO of ChargePoint, “addresses the biggest barriers to electrified transportation.” 

As part of this, the two companies plan to integrate their services for customers. In doing so, the processes involved with purchasing, installing and running EV charging projects will be streamlined. Eaton’s power management systems will help customers manage the power requirements of ChargePoint’s technology. Hardware solutions being offered include delivery and installation of EV chargers, as well as ongoing engineering services. Through the collaboration, both companies can offer full end-to-end coverage within the EV space as they now offer services from grid to chargers to vehicle.  

Additionally, the companies will co-develop new technology to aid in infrastructure improvements and innovate within the space. Such ventures already being discussed include exploring new bidirectional power flows and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) charging capabilities.  

Wilmer also points to the sustainability benefits of the collaboration. He comments that improved accessibility to charging infrastructure will “accelerat[e] electrification and decarbonis[e] the planet in parallel.”  

At Finished Vehicle Logistics North America earlier this year, several experts from across the sector outlined the challenges facing the EV market, specifically in the US. A common theme was a lack of infrastructure, especially the volume required to match traditional ICE infrastructure.  

Endeavours such as this could be a means of solving this problem: on the collaboration, Paul Ryan, general manager, energy transition at Eaton stated that the solutions being offered “bring together trusted power distribution and EV charging solutions to simplify electrification at scale.” This is especially pertinent as North American OEMs continue to heavily invest in EV production despite rising uncertainty, meaning that increased support for EVs and EV logistics will become critical.