Albina Iljasov from XCharge: Advancing e-mobility with smart charging and grid-relieving solutions

XCharge has a growing presence in Europe and offers hardware and software solutions that combine fast and ultra-fast EV charging with integrated battery storage. “Our mission is to create an energy ecosystem for the global energy transition,” said Albina Iljasov, Head of Europe at XCharge.

The company’s NetZero Series enables energy storage and controlled charging output, aiming to relieve pressure on the electricity grid. “We take the energy during a low pricing period, charge up the battery, and then when a vehicle comes, the charger can provide fast charging up to 210 kilowatts output while only getting 60 kilowatts from the grid,” Iljasov explained. This approach is designed for sites where grid extension is not feasible or economically viable, such as logistics hubs and fuel stations entering the EV market.

According to Iljasov, “a lot of locations cannot do the grid extension. Maybe it’s too expensive or not lucrative enough. With our solution, they can still offer ultra-fast charging.”

Instead of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) in the traditional sense, XCharge focuses on “battery back to the grid” features. This enables excess stored energy to be redirected locally, such as to nearby buildings. “Technically it’s quite possible. For example, we power our office’s AC system from the NetZero Series,” Iljasov noted.

However, regulatory conditions for these technologies remain inconsistent across Europe. “Each country comes up with their own regulations. Italy has its own, Sweden has another, and Germany will likely follow,” said Iljasov. “Because of that, we need various certifications at the same time, which delays a lot of projects. We hope eventually there will be a unified regulation.”

For commercial vehicle charging, XCharge has launched a 400-kilowatt charger with liquid-cooled cables, delivering up to 500 amps. It is currently used in projects including a large bus depot in northern Italy. The company is also supporting pilot projects with logistics companies that are beginning to transition to electric trucks. “It’s a good starting point for fleets that want to test electrification without major infrastructure upgrades,” Iljasov said.

XCharge is continuing to expand its product development. “The battery pack in the NetZero Series currently comes from an external supplier. Our next step is to bring that in-house,” Iljasov confirmed. The in-house battery, branded as GridLink, has already launched in the US and is expected to reach Europe next year.

Further developments include improved PV integration, enhancements to user experience, and features such as automated cable management. “We’re expanding the portfolio to support the energy transition, not just with charging but with everything that comes with it,” Iljasov said.