Connected Energy recruits Alex Charr to expand battery partner network

Connected Energy, which specialises in giving electric vehicle batteries a second life, has appointed Alex Charr to help recruit fleet operators and OEMs into its supplier network.

As Connected Energy's head of strategic partnerships (batteries), Charr is tasked with building relationships with OEMs, vehicle providers and fleet operators to create sources of second life batteries. He will also develop ‘battery-as-a-service’ business models with financial institutions.

Originally from Paris, Charr has worked for Renault, Stellantis, Toyota and Jaguar Land Rover. Most recently he was innovation project manager and then global business development manager for commercial EV manufacturer, Arrival.

Connected Energy turns EV batteries into its E-STOR battery energy storage systems (BESS). E-STOR is increasingly used in the UK and Europe to help overcome local grid limitations, with applications including powering EV charging hubs and capturing energy generated from renewable sources.

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The company, whose investors include Caterpillar and Volvo Energy, already has a partnership with Renault which supplies batteries from Kangoo electric vans.

By repurposing batteries at the end of the life in a vehicle, the company’s battery storage technology doubles the working life of the EV batteries.

Charr said: "There is a genuine circularity to our business model. For example, fleets could be using batteries from their old EVs as energy storage in their depots, supporting the charging of their current vehicles. It’s a perfect loop.”

Matthew Lumsden, Connected Energy chief executive, added: “We are working at the nexus of transport and energy, creating sustainable energy storage solutions that reuse the batteries from yesterday’s EVs to charge today’s electric fleets. We need people who understand all aspects of those sectors to help our business continue on its current growth trajectory.

“Alex has a deep understanding of the e-mobility market and a great track record in innovation. He has the knowledge and experience to help us grow our battery pipeline as demand increases for our products.”