Are small car batteries the missing link in EV adoption and energy storage?

We are market leaders in the Nordics, but the volume lies in Europe. Only four per cent of the European car fleet is electric, and this is where growth will come from. In 2025, the EU is tightening emissions requirements for car manufacturers, forcing increased sales of EVs. Combined with more affordable, small EV models that suit the average European consumer, we will see a shift. The market has stagnated throughout 2024, but I am convinced it will turn around in 2025.

For us at Zaptec, it is about more than building chargers. We see the bigger picture: an ecosystem where the EV becomes an integrated part of the energy system. Even today, we are working on technology that allows EVs to store electricity when prices are low and feed it back to the household or grid when prices rise.

We call it bidirectional charging, also known as Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G). This is not just the future – it is a solution to one of Europe's biggest challenges: the lack of energy storage, including renewable energy. Finding new solutions to what hydropower solves today has been challenging, but the answer may be right outside our doors.

With weaker power grids in much of Europe and a growing number of people switching to electric, smart solutions are essential. This is where we see the opportunity to create value for consumers and society.

I live in Norway, where many drive powerful SUVs that are oversized for most needs. In Europe, the situation is entirely different. Around 75 per cent of the cars on the roads are small cars, and with new, affordable EV models, we will see more people being able to choose electric. At the same time, battery prices are dropping, so car prices will likely decrease in the coming years. As prices become competitive, the choice becomes easier for most people. This is one of the key drivers of growth that we are looking forward to.

2024 was a year of waiting. The market moved slower than we had hoped, but we are ready. In Q1, we are launching new products tailored to the large European markets. The plan is clear: we will take what we have succeeded in within the Nordics and expand it across Europe.

The EU aims for the transport sector to be emission-free by 2035. We know it is an ambitious timeline, but we also know we have solutions to help. We believe in a future where EVs are not just a means of transport but part of the solution to balancing the energy system. Why install an extra battery at home when the EV can do the job?

This is what we are working towards: a smarter, more sustainable future where technology solves real problems.