By Laura King
Electra, the French nugget of fast charging for electric vehicles, achieves an economic and technical feat by raising 304 million euros.
The company wants to become a leader in fast charging stations in Europe.
The meteoric rise of Electra
Electra announced on January 15, 2024, an exceptional fundraising of 304 million euros, bringing its total financing to nearly 600 million euros since its creation in 2021.
This operation, led mainly by the pension fund manager Dutch PGGM, marks the second largest fundraising in the charging sector on a European scale.
Historical investors, such as Eurazeo, RIVE Private Investment, and the SNCF group, also provided their support, demonstrating renewed confidence in Electra’s strategy.
This fundraising propels Electra into a new phase of its development.
The French start-up plans to deploy 2,200 new fast charging stations in Europe by 2030, which would correspond to the installation of 15,000 fast charging points.
Aurélien de Meaux, co-founder and CEO of the French start-up, underlines this ambition: “ We are creating a network that is very easy to use so that the transition to electricity is desirable and not a constraint .”
Ultra-fast and ultra-accessible charging stations
The Electra model stands out for its ability to offer a fast, user-friendly and accessible charging experience.
The company currently claims nearly 100,000 charging sessions per month. Its strategy is based around a massive deployment of fast terminals in strategic locations: shopping centers, hotels, car parks, etc.
The company also focuses on technological innovation, in particular with the “ Auto Charge ” function which allows automatic identification of the vehicle when recharging, but also to reserve a terminal remotely.
Electra’s strategy aligns with the energy transition objectives in Europe. Indeed, the end of sales of thermal engine cars in 2035 requires rapid adaptation of recharging infrastructures.
Electra responds to this growing need by positioning itself as a key player in sustainable mobility.
Julien Belliato, co-founder of Electra, says: “ we are the leader in France in our segment and we aim to be number 1 in Europe with the best user experience ”
