Gilbarco Veeder-Root (GVR), one of the world’s largest suppliers of fuel retail technologies, has launched Konect – a new business providing turnkey electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions for fleets and forecourt operators.
“Konect isn’t just about hardware and installation, it’s end-to-end service including consultancy, help with financing and maintenance, and in-life customer support,” explains Olga Wieczerzycka, E-mobility Solutions Sales Manager for Southern Europe at GVR.
“We’re simplifying the whole process by providing an integrated solution from a single source, instead of working with multiple suppliers.”
Konect aims to help customers optimize investments by selecting appropriate sites, maximizing uptime, and reducing operational costs, all of which are critical for delivering the fastest possible return on investment.
EV charging provides fuel retailers with opportunities to monetize longer dwell times by attracting those drivers in-store, upselling additional services, and integrating with their own loyalty schemes.
Fleets, meanwhile, can specify an ecosystem that maximizes operational efficiency and delivers a smooth transition to electric vehicles.
The solution also supports sophisticated energy management technologies, enabling operators to sell electricity back to the grid.
Olga states: “Customers recognize that charging is their next big investment, but they’re also telling us they need help. Konect was developed with a focus on those needs, and we’ve had a lot of positive feedback about what we are offering.”
Konect launched at the UNITI expo, a trade fair for fuel retailers, in May with an initial focus on Europe and North America – both of which are predicted to be among the world’s most advanced markets for electric vehicles.
Despite being a new product, the solution utilizes proven payment and charger management systems and builds on decades of strong relationships between GVR and its fuel retailer and fleet customers.
It’s designed to be scalable, easily integrated with existing IT infrastructure, and is supported by GVR’s expansive, forecourt-experienced, field engineering team.
Deep connectivity enables chargers to self-diagnose and fix up to 80% of problems in software, or for issues to be remotely diagnosed before quickly dispatching a specialized technician if necessary, all while adhering to strict service level agreements (SLAs).
“We make sure that, no matter what happens, our customers always have our support through three levels of customer service,” highlights the company’s representative.
Konect already has promising projects underway, and the company anticipates exciting announcements for later this year, as revealed to Mobility Portal Europe.
“Looking at what we have achieved with previous generation products, the feedback we are receiving in Europe has been very encouraging,” comments Wieczerzycka.
“Our customers already rely on GVR to deliver robust solutions, and we’re extending those same high standards to the EV charging space,” she adds.
Wieczerzycka states: “It’s extending the same standards those customers expect from our fuel retail solutions to the EV charging space.”
A century of transformation: the journey of Gilbarco
Founded in 1865 in North Carolina, United States (US), GVR has been a pioneer in the manufacturing of equipment and technologies for convenience stores and fuel stations worldwide.
The company’s systems and technologies are designed to integrate seamlessly, ensuring cost efficiency and optimal compatibility while helping customers face future challenges.
Although its origin is in the US, GVR began expanding internationally in the 1950s and has grown significantly in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Latin America, meeting the needs of global clients.
With approximately 4,000 employees globally, it now has facilities in countries like Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
