Plenitude, a subsidiary of the Italian energy group Eni, has announced plans to install approximately 250 electric car charging points at various Ikea locations throughout Italy. The move is aimed at enhancing the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and will be made available to Ikea visitors, employees, and suppliers. The charging stations will be operated by Be Charge, another Eni-owned company, and will provide electricity from 100 per cent renewable sources, as stated in the company’s Italian press release. However, specific details regarding the planned charging capacity and implementation schedule have not been disclosed yet.
According to Stefano Goberti, CEO of Plentitude, the company’s existing network already comprises more than 16,000 charging points. Eni had acquired Be Charge’s parent company, Be Power, in 2021, and in May of this year, they announced plans to expand their High-Power Charging (HPC) network outside of Italy by 2025.
The ambitious project involves setting up charging stations in eight EU countries, including Italy, Spain, France, Austria, Germany, Portugal, Slovenia, and Greece. The plan is to establish 2,000 fast-charging points along major traffic routes, each capable of delivering at least 150 kW of power. To fund this initiative, the Group secured 100 million euros in capital, with 50 million euros coming from the EU Commission.
In line with its commitment to sustainability, Ikea has been actively decarbonizing its fleets and operations and is one of the founding members of the EV100 initiative. With this latest collaboration with Plenitude and Eni, Ikea continues to contribute to the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, promoting a greener and more sustainable future.
