Telenet launches ‘smart’ home charging with Blossom

Belgian telecom and cable TV provider Telenet is diversifying: the company plans to provide smart home charging stations for electric cars. From April 1st, the telecom company will install charging stations under the brand name Blossom.

Blossom will become a separate company within the group and will initially focus on installing and activating smart charging stations for company employees. In a few years, Blossom will also serve consumers directly. The new company will be led by Dann Rogge, who will be General Manager. For the time being, Blossom will continue to operate from Telenet’s headquarters in Mechelen.

Best time

The ‘smart’ charging stations will offer the possibility of charging a vehicle at the best time, taking into account the capacity rate. The user can monitor his consumption (and that of family members or third parties) in the same app. At the same time, his employer can keep track of administration and reimbursements in a digital portal site.

Blossom customers can tailor their charging sessions to solar power, maximum peak consumption, and, later, dynamic rates. This solution was developed in collaboration with Scoptvision (a modular plug-and-play energy management system provider) and Optimile (an EV charging platform and e-mobility services provider).​

‘All-in-one’ app

Telenet hopes to differentiate itself from the competition thanks to a digitalized process. This should relieve the worries of company fleet managers. For employees, an ‘all-in-one’ app helps them use solar panels smartly and avoid peak rates.

Blossom starts with Telenet’s fleet, but with BNP Paribas Fortis, it also has a large external customer base with employees nationwide. Unit-T, an installation company in which Telenet has an interest, will do the installations.

Home solutions

Telenet sees many opportunities. Today, 183,000 fully electric vehicles are driving around in our country. By 2030, that number is expected to reach 1.7 million. Since charging stress is an important barrier to adopting electric cars, the ability to charge at home is very important.

According to a study by Deloitte, 65% of charging will take place at home. By the decade’s end, about 800,000 people will have a charging station at home. Therefore, Blossom has a clear ambition: to become an ally of customers in the energy transition with innovative and simple home solutions.

For Telenet CEO John Porter, it is unsurprising that a telecom company is venturing into the energy market. “It fits into our vertical activity around digital life,” he emphasizes. “It’s about something we are good at: digitizing everything,” he concludes.