A New Energy Experience: Otovo and Elli Partnership

Volkswagen Group Brand Elli and PV Provider Otovo Launch Partnership for Sustainable and Affordable Home Charging Solutions

New Partnership Between VW Subsidiary Elli and PV Provider Otovo Enables Customers to Reduce Total Cost of Ownership for Electric Vehicles by up to 40 Percent through the Combination of Wallbox and PV System

Berlin, June 6, 2024 – The future of mobility is becoming more sustainable and simpler: Elli, the Volkswagen Group brand for charging and energy, and Otovo, the leading European solar platform, announce their strategic partnership. Their joint goal is to offer a holistic solution that combines clean solar energy with electric mobility. Together, Elli and Otovo create a seamless ecosystem for sustainable mobility and energy for consumers, benefiting both the environment and consumers' wallets.

The Green Future of Mobility: Solar Power and Electromobility in Harmony

An electric car is only as green as the electricity it uses, and solar power is one of the most cost-effective energy sources that homeowners can currently use to achieve the mobility and energy transition at home.

Combining solar energy and electromobility enables both companies to develop customized solutions for the growing electric vehicle market. A central aspect of this collaboration is the implementation of efficient PV surplus charging, where excess solar energy is directly used to charge electric vehicles.

Starting in the summer of 2024, Volkswagen customers can conveniently purchase a PV system along with the new Elli Charger 2 through various Volkswagen Group sales channels and have it installed by an Otovo solar installer. The wallbox and solar storage are coordinated so that consumers can directly charge their cars with PV surplus and save on charging costs. The vehicle can then be charged at night with inexpensive grid electricity, while the solar power stored in the home battery is available for the next morning.

Financial Advantage: Reducing Total Costs by up to 40 Percent

One of the key benefits of the partnership is the significant reduction in the total cost of ownership for electric vehicles through the use of photovoltaic systems. This allows vehicle owners to produce the electricity they need themselves, making them independent of electricity price fluctuations. The combination of wallbox and PV systems offers consumers the potential to save up to 40 per cent on charging costs. These financial savings, coupled with ecological benefits, make the combination of solar energy and electromobility extremely attractive to consumers.

“To further advance electromobility, we need to make the entire charging ecosystem more accessible and cost-effective for customers. Therefore, the partnership with Otovo is not only an important signal for the charging and energy business in Germany and Europe, but especially for the intelligent integration of mobility and energy transition at home. We are very pleased about this important step and the pioneering cooperation,” explains Giovanni Palazzo, CEO of Elli.

“Through the cooperation with Elli, our solar solutions will be directly presented to buyers at the point of sale. The savings associated with PV systems will thus become immediately visible. This partnership enables us to directly demonstrate the benefits of our photovoltaic systems and significantly expand our market potential,” adds Andreas Thorsheim, CEO and founder of Otovo.

The partnership is a clear sign of both companies' commitment to shaping the future of mobility sustainably and offering innovative solutions that meet the needs of consumers.

About Otovo

Otovo is a European marketplace for solar systems and batteries for rent or purchase. Since 2016, Otovo has pursued the mission to cover every roof in Europe with photovoltaics. The “Digital First” approach of the solar platform enables customers to quickly find the best offer for them. Using proprietary technology, Otovo analyzes roofs, connects with hundreds of local installers in Germany, and automatically searches for the best deal. This ensures flexible and transparent pricing. Otovo is now active in 13 countries and has already built over 25,000 systems across Europe.

About Elli

The company Elli, with around 370 employees, addresses the needs of customers at the interface between energy and mobility. Elli is the Volkswagen Group's brand that offers a wide portfolio of energy and charging solutions in Europe and also acts as a Mobility Service Provider. The current product range includes charging solutions for private customers and businesses – from the personal wallbox to the flexible fast charging station Flexpole to charging services and innovative smart green electricity tariffs. For public charging, Elli provides digital solutions and services for a seamless charging experience. Elli was founded in 2018 and has locations in Berlin, Wolfsburg, and Munich.