Estonia's Bolt and Spain's Wallbox Collaborate to Boost Electric Vehicle Adoption in the Netherlands

Bolt, the Estonian mobility company, and Wallbox, the Barcelona-based provider of smart electric vehicle charging and energy management solutions, have unveiled a strategic partnership aimed at promoting the adoption of electric cars in the Netherlands.

Starting from Monday, August 14th, Bolt drivers in the Netherlands will gain exclusive access to a special offer: the opportunity to purchase Wallbox's highly regarded Pulsar Max home EV charger at a discounted price, complete with installation services available through either the Wallbox website or the Bolt app.

The central objective of this collaboration is to tackle the scarcity of charging options in the Netherlands, a significant hurdle that has impeded the widespread acceptance of electric vehicles. Noud Ottens, Senior Operations Manager at Bolt Netherlands, emphasizes the necessity for substantial measures to facilitate the transition to an all-electric taxi industry. Presently, around 10% of taxi journeys in the Netherlands are powered by EVs.

Ottens explains, "It's imperative for Bolt to expedite this shift, in alignment with the national zero-emission taxi policy. Through our partnership with Wallbox, we aspire to simplify the EV selection process for drivers and prepare for the future."

Frank Jüdell, Regional Director for Northwestern Europe at Wallbox, states that despite the Netherlands' notable role in European charging infrastructure, ANWB's study underscores its current inadequacy. According to Jüdell, the insufficiency of charging facilities constitutes a significant deterrent for potential EV adopters, who might be apprehensive about the associated financial commitment.

Jüdell outlines Wallbox's mission to lead the charge in this domain, with alliances like the Bolt collaboration contributing to their aim of expediting the integration of electric vehicles. By motivating Bolt drivers to acquire their own charging system and empowering them with full control over the charging process, Bolt and Wallbox jointly steer the advancement of ecologically sustainable urban mobility within the Netherlands.

Founded by Markus Villig in 2013 in Tallinn, Estonia, Bolt (formerly known as mTakso) initially concentrated on unifying all taxi services in Tallinn and Riga under a single platform. The venture took off with an initial investment of €5k from Villig's parents, which enabled him to hire a developer and officially launch the service in August 2013.

In 2014, Bolt embarked on its global expansion journey, extending its services to foreign markets and marking a significant milestone in its growth trajectory.

Ruslanas Savičius, who transitioned from an operations manager in Lithuania to the Bolt Food Regional Manager in Africa, reflects, "One of our initial challenges 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!"

Looking ahead, Bolt's focus remains steadfast on sustainability. The company is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 and is dedicated to implementing environmentally conscious practices across its operations and services.

About Bolt

Bolt is the first European mobility super-app. We are fighting for better cities and against private cars, offering a better alternative to every purpose a private car serves – including ride-hailing, shared cars and scooters, and food and grocery delivery. Founded by Markus Villig in 2013, Bolt has more than 150+ million customers in over 45 countries. We’re committed to reducing the environmental footprint of mobility and are neutralising our carbon footprint by supporting sustainable projects around the world.

About Wallbox

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.