STROOHM and Pluginvest merge to bring scale, innovation and reliability to Belgium’s EV sector

STROOHM and Pluginvest, two Antwerp-based frontrunners in electric mobility, announce their merger, jointly claiming market leadership.

Both companies are pioneers in charging solutions for employees – both at home and in the workplace – and have also built a strong position in publicly accessible AC and DC charging stations, supported by professional maintenance services for their clients.

In a sector increasingly dominated by international energy giants and foreign players trying to make their mark on the charging infrastructure market, this merger is unique: the new market leader – which will continue under the name STROOHM – is and remains a 100% Belgian company.

Bart Massin, who will lead the new group as CEO, says: “This is a major milestone for the energy sector. We’re proving that local knowledge, innovation, and entrepreneurship can not only compete with international players but can also lead to outright market leadership.”

Over the past few years, STROOHM has built strong expertise in the fleet segment, offering efficient charging solutions for employees both at home and in the office.

With its in-house team of technicians, the company guarantees high-quality service, reliability, and profitability.

Pluginvest, in turn, stands out through its solid position in the fast-charging segment, with projects for leading players such as DATS 24.

The company also offers innovative models like Charging as a Service, giving customers access to reliable charging solutions without high upfront investments.

Why this merger?

The electric mobility market is growing at lightning speed and demands scale, innovation, and reliability.

By joining forces, STROOHM and Pluginvest aim to:

• Increase quality and customer satisfaction – A merger brings together the best of both companies, resulting in better service, shorter intervention times, and higher customer satisfaction.
• Accelerate innovation – By combining expertise and resources, the group can respond more quickly to new technologies such as smart charging software, energy optimisation, and integration with renewable energy.
• Operate more efficiently – From procurement to maintenance, economies of scale mean lower costs, directly benefiting customers.
• Offer full-service solutions – From AC and DC charging stations for fuel stations and trucks to charging cards, fleet management software, and maintenance – all charging needs will now be covered under one trusted partner.
• Strengthen market position – With the largest number of charge points, the company aims to become the reference partner for both businesses and private users.

Backed by Virya Energy with capital injection

To make this merger possible, Virya Energy, the renewable energy holding of the Colruyt family, has provided a substantial capital injection, giving the new group additional clout and competitiveness.

This investment underscores Virya Energy’s confidence in the new group and accelerates the rollout of smart charging solutions.

Bart Massin says: “The merger between STROOHM and Pluginvest will lead to powerful synergies. Together, we now manage more than 25,000 charging points, supported by a team of nearly 100 employees. In the past financial year, we jointly achieved a turnover of over 25 million euros.”

Sander Hereijgers, CEO of Pluginvest, explains: “Thanks to Virya Energy’s support, we were able to better prepare Pluginvest for this next step in one of the fastest-growing sectors.“

He continues: “With our passion for electric mobility and deep expertise, we aim to further develop a customer-focused approach. This merger is a fantastic opportunity to bring together our knowledge and serve the market even better.”

Paul Tummers, CEO of Virya Energy, stresses the strategic importance of the merger:

“Enabling the transition to green, sustainable mobility is one of Virya Energy’s core priorities. We do this not only by rolling out charging infrastructure on a large scale with DATS 24, but also by supporting the broader ecosystem needed to make it work.”

“At Virya Energy, we’re pleased to be able to continue supporting the combined strength of these two leading charging infrastructure companies,” he adds.

Finally, Cedric De Jonghe, co-founder of Pluginvest, will initially focus on the integration of both companies and will later help shape the further buy-and-build strategy.

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