Plenitude and Pininfarina develop new charging station concept
The collaboration aims to ‘redefine future charging spaces by combining functionality, aesthetics, ease of use, transparency, and high‑quality services for electric mobility,’ the Italian energy group explains. The innovative charging stations are designed to be ‘distinctive and easily recognisable spaces’ that can flexibly adapt to various urban and regional contexts.
In this partnership, Eni’s subsidiary Plenitude will contribute its technological expertise, while Pininfarina will bring its ‘excellence in architecture and design.’ The renowned design firm will lead the charging stations’ design, ‘with particular attention to material quality, ergonomics, and harmonious integration into the surrounding environment,’ according to Eni. The project also includes developing additional services to enhance the charging experience for electric vehicle drivers.
Further details about the planned charging stations have not yet been disclosed. Key aspects such as the intended use cases or technical specifications – including charging capacity – remain unclear, and it has not been confirmed whether the concept will focus on DC fast charging or AC solutions. There is also no timeline for when the design phase will be completed or when the first locations based on the new concept could be deployed.
In the DC charging segment, Plenitude has so far primarily relied on hardware from Alpitronic. It is therefore possible – though not confirmed – that the concepts developed with Pininfarina could also incorporate established hardware modules. Audi, for example, uses Alpitronic technology for its Audi Charging Hubs without simply installing the manufacturer’s standard Hypercharger units.
One concrete step has already been announced: as part of the partnership, Plenitude – through its subsidiary Plenitude On The Road – will install four charging stations at Pininfarina’s headquarters in Cambiano near Turin, Italy. The site will feature two AC charging points with 22 kW each and two DC chargers with a capacity of up to 50 kW.
“The collaboration with Pininfarina brings together two leading players in the Italian industry, whose expertise is recognised both nationally and internationally,” said Paolo Martini, Head of E-Mobility Recharge Solutions at Plenitude and CEO of Plenitude On The Road. “We are in a period of profound transition, technology is evolving rapidly, and this agreement will help reshape the way we experience charging areas, with the aim of offering e‑drivers increasingly personalized services tailored to their needs.”
“This partnership confirms Pininfarina’s commitment to helping redesign the mobility of the future. From our first electric vehicle in the 1970s to our most recent innovations in design, architecture, and user experience, we apply our multidisciplinary expertise to solutions that improve people’s lives,” added Paolo Dellachà, CEO of Pininfarina. “Together with Plenitude, we aim to transform charging areas into spaces that are more welcoming, recognisable, and harmoniously integrated into their surroundings, because we believe that design is a true driver of progress and an accelerator of change.”
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