INTERVIEW Gabriel Ionita, Axionet: “We operate more than 100 charging stations spots in Romania and we will continue to expand rapidly”

“Romania has a generous program underway to support transition to electric cars and consumer feedback has so far been positive. We believe that with the increase of the offer in the Economy segment we will have a much higher adoption on the e-mobility front,” Gabriel Ionita, Axionet founder and CEO told Automotive Today.

“We will continue to develop our network of electric charging stations, through new units and the integration of other functional points into the network, the design of intelligent management solutions and the marketing of solutions for the provision of electric and plug-in hybrid car charging services for individuals, businesses, and public institutions.”

How do you feel about Romania’s transition to a cleaner mobility?

We have every reason to be optimistic about the mobility revolution. The European Union has taken a clear position to support green solutions.

Romania has a generous program underway to support transition to electric cars and consumer feedback has so far been positive. We believe that with the increase of the offer in the Economy segment we will have a much higher adoption on the e-mobility front.

Are we making enough progress on e-mobility?

We are making significant progress towards e-mobility. There is always room for improvement, especially when it comes to the adoption of new technologies, but we are on the right path.

How do you see the evolution of e-mobility in Romania on short and medium term?

There is increased awareness of e-mobility and the benefits for customers and the environment. As the products offer expands so will adoption and implementation in the future.

Just look at our Polyfazer project, which was launched in 2017 and had a rapid growth, especially in the last year, in the local and regional market. We now operate more than 100 charging stations spots in Romania alone and we will continue to expand rapidly in the near future, especially through partnerships such as the one signed with Altex.

What are your most important ongoing projects?

The current partnership with Altex is the flagship project in the field of electric mobility and photovoltaic. This cooperation will allow us to continue to provide charging services for electric and plug-in hybrid cars and to increase investment in renewable energy production to support the highly digital and sustainable mobility of the future.

Axionet will soon take over the implementation, management and operation of green energy solutions and services within the Altex store network for the group’s internal and external customers. In parallel, we will continue to develop our network of electric charging stations, through new units and the integration of other functional points into the network, the design of intelligent management solutions and the marketing of solutions for the provision of electric and plug-in hybrid car charging services for individuals, businesses, and public institutions.

What are the challenges you are facing now?

The main challenges are specific to new technologies. Firstly, there is a need for a re-engineering of the transport infrastructure. Steps in this direction are slow, but I believe we will see a more marked advance in the coming years, especially with increased private sector involvement.

The second challenge concerns the ability of the regulatory framework to keep pace with these technological developments. We are optimistic on this topic, given the directions that are also being taken across the European Union.

What is your company’s business approach in the current economic context?

The company is in a sustained state of growth. This has been made possible by adapting the offer, skills and services provided to the concrete realities of the market. Now, our investments are mainly directed towards supporting Polyfazer and our offer on electric mobility. The development of Polyfazer also aims at facilitating direct and real-time communication with the EV charging equipment, as well as direct booking and payment from a dedicated mobile application, direct payment by bank card or SMS. We also implement, install and manage AC and DC charging stations or can assist in the management of existing charging stations.

What are your main concerns for the foreseeable future?

One of the main concerns is the decreasing pool of specialists in the country, which can hinder or delay development in many local sectors.