Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, ENGIE EPS JV to Explore e-Mobility

“The two companies join forces in order to move forward into the new era of a more sustainable mobility, offering innovative solutions and services to make access to electric mobility easy and convenient for everyone.”

In Turin today Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and  ENGIE EPS signed an agreement for a Joint Venture that will offer products and solutions such as charging infrastructure and “green energy packages” to electric vehicle customers in Europe. It’s the latest move from a major automaker that recognizes that gasoline and diesel engines are going the way of the dinosaurs – as will automakers that don’t act quickly on the transition.

The new JV will be an Italian e-Mobility technology company, with access to a portfolio of more than a hundred patents, a team of electrical and system engineers, and an established automotive industrial footprint. “Electrification represents an inevitable trend poised to disrupt urban mobility and – most of all – an unstoppable paradigm changes of worldwide energy systems,” said Carlalberto Guglielminotti, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager ENGIE EPS.

The problem is that China, the world’s largest auto market, has locked in supplies of the materials needed to make advanced batteries, and through regulatory policy and other incentives is leading the way on the conversion to electric vehicles. The intellectual property battles will eventually commence AutoInformed predicts.

The Memorandum of Understanding creating the Joint Venture aims to become a leader in the European e-Mobility landscape, which would rely on FCA’s financial resources and industrial footprint and on ENGIE EPS’ technological know-how and intellectual property portfolio.

“The two Companies join forces in order to move forward into the new era of a more sustainable mobility, offering innovative solutions and services to make access to electric mobility easy and convenient for everyone,” they said.

“The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding originates from a fruitful three-year cooperation between the two companies, which allowed the implementation of truly disruptive projects, such as the introduction of the exclusive FCA easyWallbox, an easy-to-use plug-and- play charging unit, the recently launched V2G Pilot Project and the innovative customer-oriented energy packages,” said Mike Manley, Chief Executive Officer of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.