POLAR networks of charging stations for electric vehicles will be supplied with SIM cards from O2 as the initial piece of a deal with Chargemaster.
M2M (machine to machine) connections will be provided by O2 as a part of the POLAR network of Chargemasters charging points for electric vehicles. The whole of the UK’s POLAR terminals will be embedded with O2 SIM cards in the deal, which will give customers access to authorize their own usage of the charging points. It is hoped that four thousand POLAR terminals will be set up by the end of 2012, with an initial deployment in 100 towns and cities.
The two companies have confirmed that their joint venture will see additional services provided, including enabling customers to pay with their mobile for charging plus systems which help drivers of electric vehicles to locate the closest charging point.
CEO of Chargemaster Plc, David Martell, expressed their companies delight at the partnership with Telefonica. In an expanding climate of low carbon motoring, Chargemasters POLAR network is at the forefront and with the company’s complementary strengths they are looking forward to a healthy working partnership.
Gilli Coston, M2M at O2, stated that O2 are committed to helping customers pursue more sustainable lives by bringing relevant services and products to market. With the market in electric cars evolving they hope to boost the benefits available to their customers through their work with Chargemaster, developing a range of competitive services for the massive realizable growth area.
O2 already claim to be the leaders in M2M transport services, specifically in fleet management. Promoting sustainable living is part of O2’s Think Big programme of sustainability and the deal with Chargemaster is now a part of this initiative.