Managed Services for EV Charging Infrastructure: EVBox Partners With MSP EVA Global

EVBox, a major provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, has tapped EVA Global as a managed services provider (MSP) for Level 1 support.

The partnership is part of a larger MSP trend across the EV charger network industry, which is striving to improve charger reliability, availability, performance and user experience.

EVBox Business Background: EVBox, founded in 2010, is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The company had 690 employees listed on LinkedIn as of May 2024. EVBox has deployed roughly 550,000 charging ports to residential, commercial and fast-charging customers worldwide. The company also develops EV charging management software called EVBox Everon. Engie acquired EVBox in 2017. From there, EVBox had planned to merge with a SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company) in 2020, but the M&A deal was scrapped in 2021 amid cooling market demand for SPAC deals.

EVA Global Business Details: EVA Global, founded in 2017, is based in Tampere, Pirkanmaa -- a region of Finland. The company had 287 employees listed on LinkedIn as of May 2024. EVA Global is an MSP that offers end-to-end infrastructure management, monitoring, service desk and support services for EV charging infrastructure partners. Key customers include Charge Point Operators (CPOs), Fleet Owners, EV Infrastructure companies, the Energy Sector and Vehicle OEMs. Key EVA Global investors include Verdane, a European specialist growth equity investor.

Under terms of the partnership, EVBox is transitioning Level 1 customer support to EVA Global. EVBox customers gain 24x7 support in English, Dutch, German and French for Level 1 support inquiries the company said.

The move is part of a larger EVBox service and support strategy that will enhance remote diagnostics on public charging stations, the company said.

EV Charging Networks and Managed Services: Partnership Perspectives

In a prepared statement about the partnership, Jean-Pascal Bourdier, VP of Aftersales & customer services at EVBox, said: "We are proud to announce our strategic shift towards enhancing customer support operations, solidifying our commitment to service excellence in the EV industry. Over the years, we've diligently worked to evolve our Aftersales department, recognizing that we're not merely manufacturers of charging stations, but stewards of reliable mobility solutions. Our scalable approach revolves around constantly updating care plans tailored to individual customer needs, informed by real-time feedback and co-development initiatives. This partnership with EVA Global marks a pivotal step in our journey, allowing us to leverage their expertise while retaining control over our systems. Together, we're poised to deliver unparalleled service, ensuring that EV charging remains a dependable resource for current and future mobility needs."

Added Jane Hoffer, CEO of EVA Global: "We are thrilled to announce our partnership with EVBox. This collaboration demonstrates the high caliber of our technology and services we have developed since 2017. I’m excited this cooperation puts our omni-channel capabilities to a wide use with chat options gaining more prominence in line with evolving consumer preferences. In addition to supporting EV drivers, our solution facilitates more complex inquiries and serves a broader range of customers in the Aftersales space, opening up new opportunities. Our joint efforts represent a significant stride toward efficient and enjoyable charging for all stakeholders."

EV Charging Infrastructure Growth, Challenges and Managed Services

Multiple enterprise technology companies and MSPs are launching managed services for EV charging networks.

For instance, Siemens is rolling out Depot360 Managed Services and Depot360 Charging as a Service for EV charging networks in North America (United States, Canada) and Europe (Germany, France, UK, Sweden and Norway). 

The managed services arrive at a key time for the overall EV charging network market.

The global EV charging station market will reach $12.1 billion by 2030, up from $7.3 billion in 2024, according to Markets and Markets. That's an 8.8% compound announce growth rate (CAGR), the forecast predicted.

Still, the market faces multiple hurdles. Worldwide demand for EVs and associated charging stations continues to grow -- but at a much at much slower pace than previous years. Moreover, some EV charger networks have suffered from reliability and quality issues.

Tesla Supercharger Network Layoffs: Tesla's Supercharger network has emerged as a de facto standard in North America, but the company in April 2024 cut hundreds of Supercharger network employees. At the time, CEO Elon Musk offered this context via X: "Tesla still plans to grow the Supercharger network, just at a slower pace for new locations and more focus on 100% uptime and expansion of existing locations."

We'll be watching to see how the EVBox-EVA Global relationship works out.