The Landis+Gyr Case and the Future of CPO Operations at a Crossroads

On 11 February, the world’s leading provider of integrated energy management solutions, Landis+Gyr, confirmed it: it will shut down and exit its electric vehicle (EV) charging business in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).

Additionally, it announced the liquidation of its Slovenian subsidiary, Etrel, just a few months after fully acquiring it.

“The significant change in regulatory and market conditions, as well as the competitive pressure in the sector, makes it highly unlikely that this segment will reach target growth rates and be profitable in the foreseeable future,” the company explained in an official statement.

Following its exit from the business, Landis+Gyr expects impairment and restructuring charges in the range of 35 to 45 million dollars for the 2024 fiscal year, of which approximately 10 to 15 million dollars will be effective restructuring charges.

But what are the consequences for other players in the E-Mobility sector?

First and foremost, charging point operators (CPOs) will need to find a new electric mobility platform and manage the migration.

The reality is that this closure leaves several operators at a crossroads, as the lack of support and updates exposes them to service disruptions, security vulnerabilities, potential performance and interoperability issues, and increased operational risks.

“It is still unclear how long support will continue for the Ocean platform (SaaS solution). This puts CPOs under time pressure to find a suitable replacement, as to keep the stations operational, they must be connected to new charge point management software (CPMS),” stated Paweł Małkowiak, CEO of Solidstudio, to Mobility Portal Europe.

He continued: “Depending on the size of each operator, the migration process can be a major challenge. Therefore, it is crucial that they find a partner who not only provides the tool but also offers a future-proof business model and has the necessary expertise.”

It is worth mentioning that the migration of roaming contracts is one of the most crucial aspects when connecting to a new CPMS.

In this regard, both E-Mobility Service Providers (EMSPs) and charging hubs will be affected and will need to collaborate with CPOs and their new partner throughout this process.

The same may apply to providers of credit card payment terminals for ad-hoc charging or support systems.

“I hope that EV drivers will not be affected by this situation, but if they are, ideally, the migration should bring an improvement in the charging experience thanks to the adoption of more modern platforms,” commented Powel.

Where is the mistake?

The closure of Landis+Gyr is not an isolated case.

On the contrary, several other companies have scaled down their operations or shut down entirely in recent months.

As is well known, in October 2024, EVBox confirmed its closure.

Additionally, last month, Eways—the largest charging operator in Sweden—went bankrupt.

“Any startup that is not profitable may fail in its attempt to raise another funding round and run out of money,” said Pawel.

“Even with an IPO or a successful acquisition, there can be situations where the company collapses due to bankruptcy or simply ceases operations. We saw this with EVEGlobal and EVBox,” he added.

While e-mobility is a dynamic and relatively new sector that heavily relies on EV adoption and investment, at the end of the day, it remains a business like any other, where “companies must manage operating and capital costs and protect their margins.”

It is also essential to analyse the business model: CPOs invest millions of euros in infrastructure, which is typically managed by third-party software.

“They cannot afford disruptions to their operations due to external dependencies,” stated the SolidStudio representative.

He added: “This situation highlights an essential conversation about the inherent risks of relying solely on third-party SaaS to manage critical infrastructure.”

Meanwhile, Tom Butcher, Business Development Manager at Electric Miles, commented: “It has become evident that it is impossible for a single company to handle everything required within the EV charging ecosystem internally.”

“Partnerships are more important than ever, allowing each company to focus on the functions in which they excel,” he added.

Companies Set Out to ‘Hunt’ Landis+Gyr’s Partners

As part of the business liquidation process, the company will immediately halt its EV charger manufacturing activities.

This means that open purchase orders and contracted delivery commitments cannot be fulfilled.

Landis+Gyr will also be unable to proceed with updates, hardware service agreements, or repairs.

Additionally, pending training and support requests will no longer be processed.

While the closure presents a challenge for the affected CPOs, it also offers an opportunity to rethink their software strategy.

In response to this situation, various companies have set out to ‘hunt’ those operators who are desperate to avoid potential disruptions to their operations, promising them “seamless integration, optimised performance, and a smooth transition.”

This is the case for HOBACA, Infuse EV Solutions, Nayax Energy, Tridens, Wattery, Webo Energy, among others.

“Short-term moves do not build lasting companies. At Tridens, we take a different approach. We are not here for quick wins; we are here for the long game,” posted Aleš Pristovnik, CEO at Tridens, on LinkedIn.

Some companies, such as Iris Suite and Electric Miles, have gone even further, now offering free trials of their CPMS.