CPOs take note: What is Ecoinside’s formula for winning tenders?

Ecoinside‘s expansion strategy within the electric mobility sector is built on a clear premise: to invest efficiently and strategically in charging infrastructure.

Its success in the MOBI.E “Ruas Elétricas” tender reflects its business model, which combines sustainability with guaranteed profitability.

António Cunha Pereira, co-CEO of the company, outlines in an interview with Mobility Portal Europe the key pillars that enabled Ecoinside to compete robustly in an increasingly contested market.

Success in tenders is not a matter of chance.

“We are not only efficient in executing projects, but our implementation costs are also highly competitive, likely at a level where few companies can improve upon our position,” he explains.

He elaborates: “I’m not saying we are the best, but in terms of costs and execution times, we are in a very strong position, which allows us to make the lowest possible investment.”

In public tenders, Ecoinside assumes the entire funding with its own capital and does not manage the charging points once they are installed.

Thanks to this model, the company can submit competitive bids tailored to the specific criteria of each tender.

What are these parameters?

In some cases, the maximum price that can be charged to electric vehicle users; in others, the percentage of revenue shared with the city or municipality, among others.

“Regardless of the criteria, our ability to optimise the investment allows us to present an attractive offer,” assures the co-CEO.

This is what led the company to win the MOBI.E tender.

The evaluation of companies in this was based on three factors: the amount of investment made, the maximum price that would be charged to users, and the percentage of revenue paid to MOBI.E based on the set prices.

“Based on these three factors, we managed to achieve the highest score in the four largest cities within the tender,” he notes.

He emphasises: “These were the most sought-after by participating companies, as the project involved 66 locations in total, but many of them were in small towns, where the return on investment would be slower.”

For this reason, Ecoinside did not participate in all 66 locations but strategically selected areas where they anticipated higher demand and profitability.

Currently, Ecoinside is working with the municipalities to obtain the necessary permits and licenses to carry out the works on the public roads of the cities.

Once this phase is completed, they will proceed with the installation of the charging points.

“Our plan is for them to be available to electric vehicle users within the next three months,” he details.

And that’s not all.

“Furthermore, a new public tender from MOBI.E, ‘Ruas Elétricas II’, is currently underway, and we are also participating for some of the competing locations,” he reveals.

In addition to this, they recently received “good news” regarding one of the tenders they participated in to install a super-fast charging point and five normal ones at a location in central Portugal.

According to Cunha Pereira, it is a well-known place, attracting a large number of people who come to pray, but which currently lacks nearby chargers.

“If we manage to operate there, it will be a significant step forward for electric mobility in that area,” he states.

What is the news?

They have recently received the first preliminary report, where competitors can still present objections, but for now, Ecoinside is in first place.

“Unless there are objections that alter the outcome, we will be the winners of this tender,” he affirms.

In this context, Mobility Portal Europe will continue to monitor the developments.

What is Ecoinside’s business approach?

Under a B2B strategy, Ecoinside structured a business model that allows it to maximise the profitability of each project without compromising quality or infrastructure coverage.

Unlike other CPOs, the company adopts a positive investment approach, which not only generates an environmentally beneficial impact but also financially boosts its sustainability strategy.

As such, the technology it offers clients can be financed directly with its own capital or, alternatively, the company can assume the investment and receive payment through the savings generated by the implemented solution.

Since entering the eMobility sector in 2021, the company has taken a meticulous approach to infrastructure installation.

The company does not focus on the number of charging points but on their strategic location, prioritising areas with high electric vehicle traffic and where the “refuelling” network is still limited.

“We are not looking to install stations indiscriminately just to increase the number of chargers, but we adopt a customised and strategic approach,” says the co-CEO.

One example of this strategy is their collaboration with a hotel chain in Portugal, where they installed chargers at most of their establishments, allowing guests to recharge their electric vehicles during their stay.

At the same time, the company has developed projects with supermarkets and urban centres, installing “refuelling” equipment in locations where users can make the most of their charging time while engaging in other activities.

A success story highlighted by the co-CEO is the project in Matosinhos, where Ecoinside installed 44 charging points in the city centre.

Currently, the company operates over 100 charging points and plans to double this number in the coming months with the installation of an additional 100 chargers.

“Moreover, we are participating in new public tenders that could allow us to triple our network, surpassing 300 charging points, likely by the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026,” he forecasts.

Portuguese eMobility market outlook

Electric mobility in Portugal continues to expand, and Ecoinside aims to position itself within this increasingly competitive market.

In this context, the company identified new business opportunities in the self-generation of energy for the charging of electric vehicles, a trend that could transform the sector.

“It is important for companies to know that it is possible to generate energy at the same location where the chargers are installed,” says Cunha Pereira.

He emphasises: “Private businesses with parking spaces, such as supermarkets, hotels, or restaurants, can make the investment in charging points even more attractive.”

Additionally, according to the co-CEO, with the new regulation that could be approved in the coming months, it will be possible to self-generate the electricity used for vehicle charging.

This would make the business even more profitable, as, in addition to the charging service, operators could supply the stations with free energy generated by photovoltaic systems.

“Therefore, any company with a parking lot with four or five available spaces could turn this into a very attractive business with Ecoinside,” he concludes.

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