Buzze Can Help Stranded Multifamily and Commercial Enel X Way EV Charging Users

Enel X Way North America has announced that it will be shutting down its residential and commercial EV charger business in the U.S. and Canada, with the closure set to take effect on October 11, 2024.

The company’s U.S. division, Enel X Way USA, stated that a third-party firm will be appointed to handle its remaining obligations and will communicate directly with customers and partners regarding the shutdown. This abrupt decision by Enel X Way leaves its North American customers facing a sudden end of both residential and commercial support for their EV charging infrastructure.

“All Enel X Way software will be discontinued,” the company said in a statement. Commercial charging stations will lose functionality in the absence of software continuity. The Enel X Way App and all other Enel e-mobility apps in North America will be discontinued and removed from the App Store.”

A major concern for charge point operators is that without the connectivity, the Enel X Way chargers will be “dumb,” meaning that because the connection no longer exists, users will be able to charge for free. This could mean hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars in unrecoverable monthly power costs.

Buzze, a leading EV charging company serving multifamily and commercial customers, has already announced they are launching a solution to help these “dumb” chargers get up and running on their network. This would help multifamily and commercial owners avoid potential unrecoverable losses.

Why is the Company Shutting Down in the US and Canada?

Enel Group plans to continue offering its EV chargers in countries where it already operates electricity retail businesses, allowing it to offer bundled services. However, in the U.S. and Canada, where Enel does not have a retail electricity business, Enel X Way North America’s operations were limited to selling charging hardware and software.

The company cited significant changes in the U.S. EV market over the past year as a factor in its decision to exit North America. Enel X Way has been impacted by rising interest rates, which have increased the cost of scaling its charging infrastructure in an environment of economic uncertainty, compounded by EV sales growth that fell short of expectations. This financial pressure, combined with a shifting market landscape, ultimately led to the company’s decision to withdraw from the U.S. and Canadian markets.

How Does This Impact Home EV Charging?

JuiceBox, the residential EV charging hardware from Enel X Way, will still function for vehicle charging. However, with the shutdown of Enel X Way’s operations in North America, the Enel X Way app and all other related e-mobility apps will be discontinued and removed from the App Store. This means that users will soon lose the ability to configure and manage their JuiceBox chargers through the app. Key features like remote monitoring, scheduling, and integration with smart home systems will no longer be available, leaving users with a basic charging function without the smart features they initially invested in.

How Enel X Way Commercial EV Chargers Will be Affected

For now, Enel X Way’s customers are left in a difficult position, with their hardware effectively useless without the software that powered the smart features. The abrupt shutdown, without offering a transition plan or alternative, has left EV-driving customers without the support they relied on, highlighting the risks of relying on closed or proprietary ecosystems for essential infrastructure.

With Enel X Way discontinuing all of its software, including the app and connected services, commercial charging stations are set to lose much of their functionality. Without software support, these stations will be unable to operate, rendering them useless. This raises an important question: Could these chargers have a second life through the installation of another company’s software? The answer is yes. Buzze, a leading EV charging company serving multifamily and commercial customers, has the answer. The company offers convenient charging solutions for all EV drivers.

How Buzze Can Help Multifamily and Commercial Enel X Way Users

Buzze is stepping in to assist stranded multifamily and commercial Enel X Way users with a straightforward solution. A technician will place a Buzze QR code sticker on each charger, instructing users to download and use the Buzze app to manage the charging process. Aside from the Buzze sticker, this process involves hosting the existing Enel X chargers on Buzze’s network. This process requires no additional hardware investment.

With a network of 1,200 installers across every U.S. state, Buzze is well-equipped to implement this transition swiftly. For charging site owners, Buzze takes care of all transactional elements. Once users complete their charging sessions, the exact amount of the transaction is processed seamlessly.

Owners will receive monthly payments based on the total EV charging conducted at their sites each month, ensuring a smooth and reliable revenue stream while keeping their charging stations operational.

The Buzze App is Easy to Use

The Buzze driver app offers a range of useful features for EV drivers, including the ability to make seamless reservations up to 7 days in advance, pre-payment for charging transactions, and real-time monitoring of charging sessions. It provides convenience for tenants who can charge their vehicles at home instead of using public chargers, along with a user-friendly interface and real-time notifications to keep drivers updated throughout the process.

The Innovative Buzze SaaS Admin Panel

The Buzze SaaS admin panel offers a comprehensive suite of tools for efficient management of EV charging stations. Key features include real-time activity monitoring, tracking of earnings from each charging session, and generating detailed reports on usage, performance, and earnings to support informed decision-making. Users benefit from automated monthly payments, seamless charging station management, and communication through the OCPP standard, ensuring security and optimal performance.

Buzze’s Amazing Story

Buzze was founded by Aaron Lieberman, the current Chairman, after he bought his first EV charger and experienced the frustrations of EV charging firsthand. Without a home charger, Lieberman faced the challenges of relying on public chargers, dealing with broken stations, and the constant need to squeeze in extra miles while charging at stores. This personal experience drove him to create Buzze, offering solutions to the “charging challenged” by simplifying access to reliable charging infrastructure.

The idea for Buzze came to Aaron Lieberman after installing a level 2 charger at his home and realizing it was underutilized. It sparked the concept of an app where EV owners could rent out their chargers to neighbors, creating an “Airbnb” for EV charging.

After launching in November 2023, Buzze discovered that its most successful hosts were near multifamily housing and rental districts, leading the company to focus on solving the lack of EV charging infrastructure in apartments and condos by offering affordable charging solutions for multifamily properties.