"The energy transition demands collaboration"

Mr. Thorsheim, in 2024 Otovo and Elli launched a partnership aimed at creating seamless integration between solar power systems and EV chargers. What is your assessment after one year of collaboration? 

Andreas Throsheim: The first year of our partnership with Elli has been nothing short of inspiring. We’ve worked together openly, transparently, and as equals, tackling challenges head-on and finding innovative solutions that truly connect e-mobility and solar seamlessly. 

Beyond setting up our bidirectional charging pilot, we’ve already integrated additional hardware components and are continuously expanding our joint offering. It’s exciting to see how quickly we can move when we combine Elli’s expertise in smart charging with Otovo’s reach and simplicity in solar. We’re already seeing great results in Germany, but that’s just the beginning. The next step is to bring this partnership even closer to car dealerships and to scale it internationally. The more we unite our strengths, the more impact we can have on accelerating the energy transition across Europe. 

What technical or procedural hurdles had to be overcome to implement this ecosystem? 

Andreas Thorsheim: Building a true solar and e-mobility ecosystem isn’t just about connecting hardware. It’s about making sure every component works flawlessly together in the customer’s home. One of the key steps was thoroughly testing the integration with home batteries to ensure that our promise of solar surplus charging holds true in everyday use. When a customer chooses to charge their EV from their own solar power, that experience needs to be simple, reliable, and transparent. 

At the same time, the market keeps evolving at high speed. Just one year after launching our partnership, entirely new topics have moved into focus, like the central role of Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS). These systems are no longer optional; they’re becoming the backbone of intelligent energy use at home. For all of these fast-changing needs, we work closely together to adapt, innovate, and deliver solutions that keep our joint ecosystem ahead of the curve. That agility is what makes this partnership so powerful. 

At IAA 2025, you emphasized that no company can tackle the energy transition alone. In your view, what are the key success factors, and what role do partnerships like the one between Elli and Otovo play as catalysts? 

Andreas Thorsheim: Energy and mobility used to be separate industries. Not anymore. The scale and speed of the energy transition demand collaboration. No single company can deliver it alone. 
The partnership between Elli and Otovo is a perfect example of how combining strengths creates something far greater than the sum of its parts. Elli brings automotive scale and smart charging software. Otovo contributes unmatched solar market reach and home installation expertise. 

Together, we’re not just integrating products. We’re building a complete ecosystem from the EV in the driveway, to the charger on the garage wall, to the solar panels on the roof. From electricity generation to intelligent, flexible use in the home. 

We believe the EV is no longer just a car. It’s the most adaptable energy asset in the household. When you connect that mobility battery with solar generation and smart home energy management, you give customers control, savings, and resilience. 

Partnerships like this turn that vision into a reality for millions of Europeans. They accelerate innovation, reduce time-to-market for new technologies like bidirectional charging, and make the benefits of the energy transition tangible in everyday life. 

EVs offer enormous potential as flexible energy sources within the power grid. In your opinion, what role will Vehicle-to-Home realistically play in everyday life in Europe over the next 3–5 years? 

Andreas Thorsheim: Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) is no longer a distant theory. It’s one of those technologies people in certain European countries have been talking about for years. Until now, though, most of that remained hypothetical due to regulations. That’s why it’s incredibly exciting to be part of a hands-on pilot that actually brings V2H into people’s homes. 

This isn’t to say we’re already at market maturity. But what we’re doing now is crucial: learning together, testing what really works, and developing demand-oriented solutions that are truly customer-centric. Our pilot is set for Q4 and into the first half of 2026 and it marks a massive milestone in developing practical V2H systems over the next three years. The broader momentum is clear. The global V2G market, which includes V2H, was valued at $3.4 billion in 2024 and is forecast to grow by 38% annually through 2034, reaching $80 billion (Reuters). Meanwhile, the V2H infrastructure market is projected to expand from $350 million in 2025 to over $2.1 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of around 35% (Macholevante). 

These figures confirm what we’re seeing on the ground: V2H is transitioning from the drawing board into real-life systems that deliver value. If we can transform those early pilots into scalable solutions, this could revolutionize how households produce, store, and use energy. And frankly, being part of that first wave – right from the pilot – is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. 

You see Europe as a pioneer in climate goals, but still lagging in implementation. If you had to identify one quick win for Europe, what would it be? 

Andreas Thorsheim: Europe is a global pioneer when it comes to climate ambition. But when it comes to turning that ambition into action, we’re still leaving too much potential untapped. If I had to pick one quick win, it would be to remove the unnecessary bureaucracy that slows down renewable energy projects. I’ve said it many times: solar doesn’t fail because of technology. It fails because of bureaucracy. The technology is proven, the costs have fallen dramatically, and the demand is there.  

What we need now are three simple accelerators: Planning certainty: so investors and homeowners know the rules won’t change halfway through a project. Faster approvals: measured in days or weeks, not months or years. And political consistency: stable, long-term policies that give people and companies the confidence to commit. If we can get those three things right, we won’t just speed up the energy transition, we’ll make it unstoppable. The fastest progress doesn’t come from inventing something new, but from removing the roadblocks that keep proven solutions from reaching people’s homes. 

Given the current market fluctuations, rising electricity prices, and increasing cost pressure in the solar industry: how do you maintain strategic flexibility? Where is the journey headed? 

Andreas Thorsheim: In times of rising electricity prices and shifting cost pressures, maintaining strategic flexibility is critical. And it’s exactly where Otovo’s pan-European model shines. With operations across 13 markets, including dynamic growth hubs like Poland, we can quickly pivot resources and focus where opportunity meets demand. Markets evolve differently: while the UK or Netherlands may follow one trajectory, Poland, with its strong subsidies, is now a particularly exciting growth region. That kind of adaptability gives us an edge many competitors simply don't have. 

Our approach is clear: do our job well in each market, learn from trends (like in Germany, for example), and then bring those best practices rapidly to our other markets. And always keeping the customer benefit front and center. Additionally, the rising cost of electricity isn't just a challenge. It’s also a powerful sales argument. Consumers are actively looking for solutions to cut energy bills. And with solar prices falling sharply, solar power systems become more attractive by the day. In fact, solar installation costs dropped by over 50% between early 2023 and early 2024, even while household energy prices rose significantly. This affordability combined with rising energy bills makes clean energy adoption more urgent and more appealing than ever. I’m optimistic about our journey: by staying agile, market-attentive, and customer-focused, Otovo is not just navigating the current volatility. We’re leading through it.