Estonia’s Bolt and Spain’s Wallbox team up to turbocharge electric car adoption in the Netherlands

Estonian mobility company Bolt and Barcelona-based smart electric vehicle charging and energy management provider Wallbox announced that they have partnered to encourage electric car adoption in the Netherlands.

From Monday, August 14, Bolt drivers in the Netherlands will have an exclusive opportunity to purchase Wallbox’s popular Pulsar Max home EV charger at a discounted rate, including installation via the Wallbox website or the Bolt app. 

The main goal of the partnership is to address the limited availability of charging options in the Netherlands, which is a significant barrier to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. 

Bolt Netherlands senior operations manager Noud Ottens says, “Major steps must be taken to enable the transition to fully electric in the taxi industry. Currently, about 10% of taxi rides in the Netherlands are driven by EVs.”

“It is crucial for Bolt to accelerate this process, in line with the national zero-emission taxi policy,” he adds. “By partnering with Wallbox, we hope to make it more accessible for drivers to choose an EV and prepare for the future.”

Frank Jüdell, Wallbox’s regional director for Northwestern Europe, says that despite the Netherlands’ European prominence in charging infrastructure, ANWB’s study reveals that the current state is still inadequate.

According to him, the need for charging amenities presents a significant obstacle for those hesitant to choose electric vehicles and the associated financial commitment. 

Jüdell explains that Wallbox aims to take the lead and partnerships like this one contribute to its goal to accelerate the integration of electric vehicles, 

By incentivising Bolt drivers to acquire their charging system and granting them complete control over the charging process, Bolt and Wallbox are collectively driving the progress of ecologically sustainable urban transportation in the Netherlands, he says. 

Bolt offers diverse on-demand options

Bolt is a global transportation app that offers on-demand services for various purposes, including taxis, shared vehicles, e-bikes, e-scooters and food and grocery delivery. With operations in over 45 countries and over 500 cities in Europe and Africa, Bolt has a user base of 150 million people. 

The Bolt app offers several key features that enhance the user experience. It provides low-cost rides, fast arrival times, transparent pricing and in-app payments to enable seamless transactions using various payment methods, such as credit/debit cards or Apple Pay.

Markus Villig, founder of Bolt (previously known as mTakso), established the company in 2013 in Tallinn, Estonia. The initial focus of Bolt was to bring together all the taxis in Tallinn and Riga onto a single platform. 

To kickstart the business, Villig received an initial investment of €5k from his parents, which he used to hire a developer and officially launch the service in August 2013.

In 2014, Bolt embarked on its international expansion, extending its services to foreign countries and marking a significant milestone in its growth.

Ruslanas Savičius, who transitioned from an operations manager in Lithuania to the Bolt Food Regional manager in Africa, says, “The first challenge was explaining to taxi drivers how to operate a keyless mobile device.”

“It’s a true story — about a quarter of the drivers on the platform had no idea what to do with a smartphone!” he adds.  

Looking ahead, Bolt is prioritising sustainability as a key focus. The company aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 and is committed to implementing environmentally responsible practices throughout its operations and services.

Wallbox’s commitment to electric vehicles

Wallbox was founded in 2015 by Enric Asunción and Eduard Castañeda from a small warehouse near Barcelona. Its initial offerings included the EV charger Commander and later the Pulsar charger. 

In 2016, Wallbox expanded its portfolio to include a comprehensive range of charging and energy management solutions for residential, business and public use.

By 2022, Wallbox had established itself as a leading smart charging company with a mission to facilitate the global transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. It continued to develop cutting-edge electric vehicle charging solutions for homes, businesses and cities.

In 2023, Wallbox entered a Joint Venture with Changchun FAWSN in China, operating from a new manufacturing facility in Suzhou. It expanded its operations to North America, establishing a factory in Arlington, Texas and a headquarters in Mountain View, California.

With tools like the myWallbox app and OCPP accessibility, Wallbox empowers users to manage their energy usage, leading to financial savings and a more ecologically responsible lifestyle.