Arval, the leasing arm of BNP Paribas, has partnered with solar energy specialist Otovo to help German customers charge electric vehicles (EVs) at home using self-generated solar power. The initiative aims to simplify the process for Arval business customers’ employees to access Otovo’s photovoltaic (PV) solutions, either through purchase or leasing.
The pilot program integrates Otovo’s services into Arval’s corporate customer structure, with Otovo handling installation and communication via certified partners. Customers will receive reimbursement for charging electricity at household rates and benefit from reduced per-kilowatt-hour prices due to solar generation. Otovo says this setup could shorten the amortisation period of PV systems by up to 30%. Companies also benefit from lower total vehicle operating costs and decreased reliance on public charging infrastructure.
“Innovative mobility doesn’t end with the vehicle – it starts with the energy source,” said Sébastien Valy, CEO of Arval Germany. “Our partnership with Otovo enables companies and their employees to live electromobility in all its depth and consistency. By combining electric vehicles with clean solar energy, we create sustainable added value – for the environment, for the economy and for the future.”
Otovo CEO Andreas Thorsheim added, “In Arval, we have found a strong partner who, like us, is convinced that the energy transition starts on a small scale – namely at home. The combination of electric car and solar system is the logical next step for many people.”
Arval and Otovo plan to expand the partnership across Europe over time and are developing a financing model to complement Otovo’s current rent and purchase options. Otovo, based in Norway, has installed over 30,000 solar systems in 13 European countries and describes itself as a pan-European marketplace for solar and battery solutions.