EVIQ CEO on how the firm is unlocking transition to EVs

Image credit: EVIQ/ Supplied

Q. EVIQ was founded nearly a year ago. Tell us more about the company and its contribution to Saudi Arabia’s auto industry.

 The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company (EVIQ), a joint venture between the Public Investment Fund and the Saudi Electricity Company, was founded a year ago as the first step toward driving electrification.

The infrastructure component has historically been a challenge in many markets with emerging EV ecosystems. We’ve observed trends globally and understand the critical role infrastructure plays in enabling the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).

Our goal between now and 2030 is to deploy approximately 5,000 DC fast chargers across strategic locations in Saudi Arabia. The EV chargers will be installed within cities, along highways, and across key transit routes throughout the kingdom. Similarly, we aim to connect these charging networks to neighbouring countries, ensuring that EV drivers can complete long journeys seamlessly, regardless of their use case.

We’ve also established an R&D facility to serve two main purposes. First, it allows us to test and evaluate different hardware manufacturers to understand how their chargers perform. Second, and perhaps more importantly, it enables us to develop and refine the software and technology required for an optimal EV charging experience.

Our software ensures that drivers can locate chargers, make payments, and start or stop charging sessions quickly. On the backend, it provides us with the visibility needed to manage and maintain the network efficiently, ensuring smooth operations as we scale our infrastructure.

Q. Give us insight into EVIQ’s collaborative partnership, and are you contributing to the adoption of EVs in Saudi Arabia?

We are collaborating with companies such as Lucid Group and others to provide drivers with a seamless transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs). EVIQ provides a certain amount of complimentary charging hours credited to their vehicles.

We are also integrating EVIQ charging infrastructure with the EVs’ onboard navigation systems, ensuring a smooth experience for drivers. Furthermore, collaboration, such as the one with Lucid, helps optimise battery performance.

The onboard system can monitor battery conditions, ensuring that it stays at the right temperature for maximum charging efficiency, reducing charging time significantly. These partnerships are essential in providing a seamless, reliable experience for EV drivers.

EVIQ also works closely with leading real estate developers and major fuel retailers such as ROSHN and SASCO.

Q. How many EV charging stations have been installed to date, and what initiatives are you taking to expand the network?

 Currently, we have five locations live, all based in Riyadh. Riyadh was chosen initially as it provided a smoother environment to get operations up and running quickly. However, we have multiple sites under construction across Saudi Arabia. By the end of the year, we expect to have locations operational in the three major regions: Riyadh, Jeddah, and the Eastern Province, including Dammam.

Our primary focus now is accelerating the deployment of our network. It’s important to note that while we are building out our infrastructure, we are also developing the EV charging industry itself. The speed and scale of our deployments for DC fast charging infrastructure are unprecedented in this region.

Overall, as we build momentum, we aim to transition from deploying the initial sites to having over 100 locations operational annually.

Q. What innovative technologies or solutions is your company implementing to enhance the EV charging experience?

 Our focus has been on carefully selecting the right hardware partners. Through extensive testing, research, and experience, we identified the partners that best suit our objectives while accounting for environmental conditions.

Given the unique climate challenges across the kingdom – such as the extreme heat and dry winters in the central region as well as high humidity levels in the eastern and western regions – we decided to partner with Alpitronic and ABB.

With ABB, we were the first in the region to deploy their Terra 360 model for public DC charging. Similarly, we became Alpitronic’s first partner in the region. These partnerships have enabled us to achieve energy flows exceeding 300 kW, even in extreme conditions like 42-43°C temperatures.

Our R&D facility plays a vital role in ensuring the hardware performs as expected, but the software aspect is just as critical. On the backend, the software provides us with full visibility of the network, helping us identify outages or underperforming chargers that may require servicing. 

Q. Saudi Arabia is igniting a new industry by investing in and setting up EV production facilities. What opportunities and challenges do you presently see in the market?

One of the key challenges we faced was the lack of infrastructure, which we are actively working to address. Our focus is on mobilising resources and accelerating deployment to the maximum speed possible. We aim to deploy infrastructure ahead of market demand to ensure that publicly accessible fast-charging stations are available well in advance.

Taking a broader view, advancements in battery technology will be a major factor in accelerating EV adoption. The progress in this area has been remarkable. Today’s EVs are significantly more advanced compared to those from just a few years ago. We’re seeing higher charging speeds, larger battery capacities, and, importantly, more efficient batteries.

Read: The Middle East EV market: A $54bn opportunity by 2035, shows report