Arval has launched a new global initiative to expedite customer access to latest charging solutions.

Arval Energy aims to address the ongoing challenge of charging as one of the remaining barriers to EV adoption

Launched as the leasing and mobility giant reports “exponential” growth in the adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), Arval Energy aims to address the ongoing challenge of charging as one of the remaining barriers to BEV adoption.

It’s intended to develop synergies between the worlds of mobility and energy in all Arval geographies, particularly targeting leased vehicles, and will draw on existing and future collaborations to help streamline BEV adoption with a holistic approach to charging.

Following the launch of its bundled Arval Charging Services in January 2024 – which combines a leased vehicle together with its charging station at home or in the office, Arval has signed two new major partnerships to help drivers to charge everywhere.

The tie-up with Last Mile Solutions – a leading provider of EV charging and smart energy management platforms – will provide Arval fleet customers with direct access to over 600,000 charge points across Europe via a single platform.

It’s also inked a deal with FastNed, a major player of fast charging on the road, giving access to more than 1,700 charging points available in seven European countries.

Arval Energy will also factor in the technologies of smart charging (V1G), Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and Vehicle-to-Home (V2H). Work includes early-stage investigations into smart charging with Jedlix in the Netherlands.

Arval Energy will also draw on the expertise of Arval Consulting to support clients in defining the strategy that best suits their situation and that of their employees.

Hugo Salaun, chief strategy officer of Arval, said: “Thanks to these multiple partnerships, Arval is engaged in the acceleration of fleet electrification for its customers by lifting the barriers to charging solutions. The launch of the Arval Energy initiative allows us to accelerate the development and deployment of smart charging. Our ambition is to make energy more accessible and more sustainable for all our stakeholders, and explore the future possibilities around energy trading.”

The new service will support the brand’s commitment to energy transition. It already has more than 166,000 units in its customers’ fleets as of the end of 2023, marking an 85% growth in one year, and aims to reach 350,000 BEVs by 2025. In addition, all the new vehicles Arval orders for its employees’ fleet are now 100% electric.

However, the firm’s latest research shows charging remains one of the remaining barriers to EV adoption. In fact, the Arval Mobility Observatory’s latest Barometer shows that 70% of the surveyed companies are not yet on board with the transition to all-electric due to a lack or absence of sufficient charging infrastructure.

“Confirming its position as a key player in the mobility sector, Arval anticipates, through the launch of Arval Energy and its first actions in favour of the adoption of electric vehicles, the topics that will be key for energy transition, tomorrow,” said Alain van Groenendael, chairman and CEO of Arval.