Best of LinkedIn: Intercharge Network Conference 2025

00:00:00: Welcome to The Deep Dive, provided by Thomas Allgeier and Franis, based on the most relevant posts on LinkedIn about the AI for twenty twenty five.

00:00:07: Franis is a B to B market research company working with enterprises to optimize their campaigns with account and executive insights far beyond AI.

00:00:15: You're tuning into The Deep Dive and today we're taking on a buzzing topic from the heart of e-mobility.

00:00:20: We've compiled insights from the Intercharge Network Conference, or ICNC-Twenty-Five, straight from the LinkedIn feeds of attendees and presenters.

00:00:29: Our mission for you today is to cut through the noise and deliver the top trends that emerge from this crucial event.

00:00:34: That's right.

00:00:34: The ICNC-Twenty-Five in Berlin brought together the entire EV charging ecosystem, focusing heavily on customer experience, interoperability, e-roaming, and the practicalities of high-scale charging.

00:00:46: We'll be extracting the most important nuggets of knowledge so you can quickly grasp what's shaping the future of next-gen vehicles and mobility.

00:00:53: Think of it as a direct feed from the conversations that matter, helping you understand not just what happened, but why it's significant.

00:00:58: Okay, let's unpack this with our first big theme.

00:01:02: the push for unified standards, true interoperability, and clear transparency across the charging landscape.

00:01:08: These are crucial for mass adoption.

00:01:11: Absolutely.

00:01:11: And a key announcement came from Hubject.

00:01:14: Philip Fishbacher highlighted this.

00:01:16: They officially joined the EV Roaming Foundation.

00:01:18: Okay.

00:01:18: This move.

00:01:19: aims to push a unified roaming standard, specifically the OCPI protocol.

00:01:24: OCPI.

00:01:24: Yeah, and really simplify integrations across the industry.

00:01:27: Laura Schwartz also noted Hujik's CEO, Christian Hahn, signing the contract for this.

00:01:32: It's about, you know, not splitting efforts and driving innovation faster.

00:01:35: That

00:01:35: makes total sense.

00:01:36: Fewer hurdles means smoother experiences for everyone.

00:01:39: What else did we see in this space?

00:01:40: Well, we also saw Keysight Sign Lab.

00:01:43: Alexi Teligin was talking about this, showcasing their testing solutions.

00:01:46: Ah,

00:01:46: the testing side.

00:01:48: Important.

00:01:48: Crucial.

00:01:49: Their focus is on advancing critical areas like plug-in charge, ISO, one-feb-one-eighteen-twenty, V-two-G.

00:01:55: Equal

00:01:55: to

00:01:55: grid.

00:01:56: Exactly.

00:01:56: And ensuring seamless roaming through proven interoperability validation.

00:02:01: Raphael Fail also highlighted the importance of these standards.

00:02:04: This is about making sure all these disparate parts actually work together reliably.

00:02:09: Yeah, you need that proof.

00:02:10: And for the end user, transparency.

00:02:12: is massive.

00:02:13: We heard about BMW's efforts here.

00:02:15: Indeed.

00:02:17: Leila Roche from BMW used the tech village to discuss their work on making public charging prices more transparent.

00:02:23: That's

00:02:24: a big pain point.

00:02:25: Definitely.

00:02:25: It directly addresses improving accessibility and reliability for customers, which, you know, practitioners consistently called out as needing improvement.

00:02:33: So what does this all mean for you, the tech professional listening?

00:02:36: Well, it means the industry is actively building the foundational plumbing, reducing friction, and creating a more predictable environment.

00:02:43: For developers and consumers, it's about moving from if to how we can cooperate, as Alec Prostovnik from Trident's put it.

00:02:51: Okay.

00:02:51: How we cooperate.

00:02:53: Interesting.

00:02:53: Let's move to theme two.

00:02:55: Here's where it gets really interesting, the new tech and innovations on display.

00:02:59: What caught attention at the conference?

00:03:01: One standout was Hay Charge.

00:03:03: They launched offline roaming.

00:03:05: Right there in Berlin.

00:03:05: Offline

00:03:06: roaming.

00:03:07: Yeah, Chris Cartier explained this presents internet-free EV charging functionality.

00:03:11: Internet-free charging?

00:03:12: That's quite a paradigm shift, especially in areas with spotty connectivity.

00:03:16: Exactly.

00:03:17: It's a practical approach to resilience and simplicity, ensuring you can charge even without a constant internet connection.

00:03:23: What about bigger hardware innovations?

00:03:25: Anything tackling the grid itself?

00:03:27: Definitely.

00:03:28: XCharge Europe introduced their grid-linked DC charger.

00:03:32: Carolina Maderos highlighted this as a significant step.

00:03:36: Gridlink

00:03:36: DC, what's special about

00:03:38: it?

00:03:38: It integrates battery storage, features a two hundred fifteen kilowatt or buffer that minimizes grid demand to around fifty kilowatts.

00:03:45: Wow,

00:03:46: okay, so it smooths out the load.

00:03:47: Precisely.

00:03:48: It also boasts a liquid cooled safety architecture and a modular battery design for high availability.

00:03:53: This solution is already proven in North America and now meets EU standards.

00:03:58: It offers businesses a way to reduce costs and accelerate electrification without waiting for those slow grid upgrades.

00:04:03: That's brilliant.

00:04:04: leveraging on-site storage to ease grid strain.

00:04:07: Smart.

00:04:08: And Hubject itself had some interesting demos in their tech village.

00:04:11: They certainly did.

00:04:12: Jeroen Janker invited attendees to experience innovations like plug and charge direct with ad hoc payment.

00:04:20: And plug and charger mode, which even works for non-one-five-one-eighteen legacy chargers.

00:04:24: That's useful for older hardware.

00:04:26: Very.

00:04:27: They also showcased contract data visualization directly on the charger display and a bi-directional charging setup that was actually powering the stage equipment.

00:04:35: Powering

00:04:35: the stage.

00:04:36: That's a cool demo.

00:04:37: demonstrates tangible progress in making charging more intuitive and versatile.

00:04:42: These product releases really show the drive towards more robust, flexible, and user-friendly charging solutions, addressing immediate pain points and future needs for great integration.

00:04:55: It sounds like a lot of these innovations don't happen in a vacuum though, but through deeper connections.

00:05:00: How is the spirit of collaboration at ICNC-Twenty-Five?

00:05:03: Collaboration momentum was a very visible undercurrent.

00:05:06: You felt it throughout the conference.

00:05:08: Many posts framed ICNC-V as a place to initiate and deepen ecosystem partnerships that are shaping infrastructure rollouts.

00:05:15: So real deals, real connections being made.

00:05:18: Seems like it.

00:05:19: Josie Jenerman from LE Mobility, for example, highlighted their integration of log case charge and fuel business.

00:05:25: Okay.

00:05:26: This is about offering comprehensive fleet solutions that bridge that transition, you know, from combustion engines to battery electric vehicles.

00:05:33: Helping fleets manage both during the changeover makes sense.

00:05:38: So strategic alliances are clearly paramount.

00:05:41: Absolutely.

00:05:42: Stefan Dengler of Charge IQ mentioned meeting Wolf Schlachter, whom he first met at ICNC five years ago.

00:05:48: Wow,

00:05:48: five years.

00:05:49: Yeah, emphasizing how these conferences foster genuine networking and real partnerships.

00:05:54: Yulia Zabudska similarly spoke about reconnecting with partners and how in-person meetings strengthen collaboration, even when remote work is effective.

00:06:02: It really shows you that beyond the tech, the human element of building relationships is critical for accelerating the entire e-mobility transition.

00:06:10: Couldn't agree more.

00:06:12: Okay, let's shift gears a bit to the heavy duty side.

00:06:15: Theme four, fleet, truck, and logistics charging.

00:06:19: This is a distinct and rapidly evolving area.

00:06:21: Right, and this segment saw a lot of focus.

00:06:24: truck charging reservations, for instance.

00:06:26: Reservation.

00:06:27: Yeah, they were called out as increasingly critical for a seamless carrier experience.

00:06:31: It signals growing operational maturity for heavy duty charging.

00:06:35: Moving beyond just finding any charger.

00:06:37: Exactly.

00:06:38: Max Zillinger Molinar from Travis Road Services emphasized this.

00:06:42: And Dr.

00:06:43: Leode Miller, Simon, in her keynote, expanded on how smart systems like reservations are driving performance and reliability for heavy truck charging.

00:06:51: She called it a systemic transformation.

00:06:53: Systemic transformation.

00:06:54: Big words.

00:06:55: That's a huge operational change for logistics companies.

00:06:58: What about the smaller spale like home charging for fleets?

00:07:01: Still a headache.

00:07:02: Definitely

00:07:02: a practical pain point.

00:07:04: A fleet home charging reimbursement program was showcased.

00:07:07: Availability plan for Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, and Ireland as shared by Charlie Cook.

00:07:15: Covering a good chunk of Europe then.

00:07:17: And Freddie Wendrobotham from Right Charge invited operators to discuss improving electric vehicle reimbursement processes.

00:07:24: It really underscores those practical fleet cost management needs.

00:07:28: Getting the admin right is crucial.

00:07:30: And we saw real world proof of concept for electric fleets too, not just plans.

00:07:36: Yes, absolutely.

00:07:37: Renee Steinhaus announced that Einreiz Electric Truck for REWE in Berlin hit the one million kilometer milestone.

00:07:44: A million kilometers.

00:07:46: On electric.

00:07:47: Yeah, demonstrating tangible decarbonization progress in real operations.

00:07:51: And in a similar vein, Constantin Schwab celebrated Fernride's autonomous truck reaching one million kilometers too.

00:07:58: Autonomous

00:07:58: as well.

00:07:59: Highlighting momentum toward connected automated logistics and emphasizing the critical role of software and autonomy.

00:08:05: And Sebastian Fleischhacker provided an interesting perspective, didn't he, from a bus driver?

00:08:08: Yeah, that was great.

00:08:09: From a bus driver in Berlin detailing the practical challenges like driver scarcity and... resistance sometimes to plugging in.

00:08:16: The human

00:08:17: factor again.

00:08:18: Exactly.

00:08:19: But also the successes, like large orders for electric buses, it really highlights the human and operational complexities beyond just the technology itself.

00:08:28: Absolutely.

00:08:29: Okay, theme five, software, AI and operator performance.

00:08:34: Underpinning a lot of this is the software and AI driving efficiency.

00:08:38: What insights emerged around optimizing networks and operations?

00:08:41: Well, Posts consistently emphasized Charge Point Operator, or CPO, network optimization and cost reduction.

00:08:48: Getting more out of the network.

00:08:49: Right.

00:08:50: Fritz G highlighted backend providers adding AI capabilities via APIs and charger makers boosting hardware performance for true availability and predictive maintenance.

00:09:00: Predictive

00:09:00: maintenance night.

00:09:01: Robert

00:09:02: Berquist also discussed monetizing every charging session effectively and scaling operations without headaches.

00:09:07: So it's about smart management and making the most of existing and new infrastructure smarter not just bigger.

00:09:13: Precisely.

00:09:14: And Eduardo Medina-Banderas from Chargea showcased their WhatsApp-based AI assistant.

00:09:19: Charging

00:09:19: help via WhatsApp.

00:09:21: Yeah.

00:09:22: He advocated for interoperability to deliver simpler, more reliable driver experiences.

00:09:28: Arguing that the EV transition isn't just about deploying more chargers, but delivering better experiences for drivers.

00:09:35: Making it easy.

00:09:36: This really underlines the importance of intelligent systems, not just for the backend, but for the immediate user interaction, making it less intimidating.

00:09:44: Totally.

00:09:45: Which brings us nicely to our final theme, customer experience and adoption.

00:09:51: Ultimately, all these advancements aim to improve the customer experience and accelerate mass EV adoption.

00:09:58: What were the key takeaways on this front?

00:10:00: Well, BMW's efforts on transparent public charging, which Leila Roche presented, directly feed into improving user trust and clarity.

00:10:07: We touched on that earlier.

00:10:08: But, you know, practitioners like Merrick Guttmastow also candidly called out reliability and user experience gaps that still need closing in public networks.

00:10:16: Still gaps.

00:10:17: Oh, yeah.

00:10:18: He even shared a personal disastrous charging attempt.

00:10:21: His words.

00:10:27: Oof.

00:10:28: That personal anecdote.

00:10:30: really brings it home.

00:10:31: It's not just about the tech working, but about it working seamlessly every single time.

00:10:36: No hassles.

00:10:36: Precisely.

00:10:37: Reliability is paramount.

00:10:39: And Ampica's remarks, highlighted by Lindsay Warren referencing Orlin Ratt of a V, stressed the crucial role of specialists in crossing the adoption chasm.

00:10:47: Specialists.

00:10:48: Yeah, advising companies to begin directing specialists instead of doing everything yourself.

00:10:53: Focus matters.

00:10:55: Richard Albrecht from Sauce Charge also framed mass adoption around seamless availability and cost competitive charging.

00:11:01: Making it easy and affordable.

00:11:02: Simple for drivers, profitable for operators, scalable for everyone.

00:11:06: That was the gist.

00:11:07: Echoed by Alesh Prostovnik, too.

00:11:09: And we're seeing this play out in real time on the ground, aren't we?

00:11:12: More chargers popping up.

00:11:13: Indeed.

00:11:14: York Colbe observed a rapid expansion of public charging infrastructure.

00:11:18: Particularly fast chargers at supermarkets and in city hubs.

00:11:21: I

00:11:21: said more convenient.

00:11:22: Right.

00:11:22: Driven partly by regulations like GEIG- Twenty-Twenty-Five.

00:11:26: This shows tangible progress in making charging more convenient and integrated into daily life, which is critical for mass adoption.

00:11:33: So the overarching message from ICNC-Twenty-Five through Christian Hahn and others was a strong sense of optimism and energy.

00:11:40: despite the challenges.

00:11:42: Yeah, definitely.

00:11:43: Optimism to drive change, to electrify everything, and to shape the future of e-mobility jointly.

00:11:48: It's an exciting time, for sure.

00:11:50: But the challenges of user experience and reliability remain central.

00:11:53: That came through loud and clear.

00:11:55: Okay,

00:11:56: a lot to digest there.

00:11:57: If you enjoyed this deep dive, new episodes drop every two weeks.

00:12:00: Also, check out our other editions on commercial fleet insights, next-gen vehicle intelligence, future mobility and market evolution, and electrification and battery technology.

00:12:09: We appreciate.

00:12:09: I appreciate you joining us for this essential update from the Intercharge Network Conference, twenty twenty-five.

00:12:15: It's clear the e-mobility industry is advancing rapidly.

00:12:18: Strong focus on technical standards, innovative products, strategic partnerships, it's all happening.

00:12:23: But as we reflect on the breakthroughs and, well, those persistent challenges and user experience, it raises an important question for you listening.

00:12:31: How do we ensure that in our race for technological advancement, we genuinely prioritize the everyday driver's seamless, reliable, and equitable charging experience, really making sure no one is left behind in this transition?

00:12:44: A crucial question for the industry to grapple with.

00:12:46: Absolutely.

00:12:47: Until next time, keep exploring, keep questioning, and keep driving the conversation forward.

00:12:53: Thank you for listening, and remember to subscribe for more Deep Dives.