Andreas Thorsheim, OTOVO: "The energy transition can only succeed if it affects all areas of people's lives"

Elli and the PV provider OTOVO have joined forces to offer sustainable and cost-effective home charging solutions. In an interview, OTOVO CEO Andreas Thorsheim reveals why the two companies complement each other perfectly - and how customers benefit from this partnership.

No question about it: the new Elli Charger 2 and a photovoltaic system are a true dream team. Elli and OTOVO share a common goal of offering a comprehensive solution that combines clean solar energy with electromobility. Together, the VW subsidiary and the Norwegian company create a seamless ecosystem for sustainable mobility and energy, aiming to benefit not only the environment but also the wallets of consumers.

But how does it actually work? And what challenges and opportunities arise when integrating both technologies? Andreas Thorsheim, CEO of OTOVO, provides answers in an interview.

Mr. Thorsheim, what inspired you to found a solar start-up in a country that is not exactly known for its many hours of sunshine?

Andreas Thorsheim: In Norway, it's dark for half the year, labor is expensive and electricity is cheap. These are difficult conditions for a solar company. But you can compare it to altitude training for athletes: It makes us more resilient. The idea behind it was: if we can do it here, we will be well prepared for other markets. This training has paid off - we are now represented in 13 European markets.

What exactly does OTOVO do and what products or services do you offer? Can you give us a brief insight into the main services and products that Otovo offers?

Andreas Thorsheim: OTOVO is a company that specializes in the sale, rental and installation of solar systems. We provide a platform for homeowners to have solar systems installed on their roofs easily and cost-effectively. With our marketplace model, similar to that of the Uber platform for arranging rides, we provide our customers with the right installation company with the best price-performance ratio. This means that we offer complete solutions for the installation of solar systems on private homes. This includes the planning, delivery and installation of solar modules as well as the necessary inverters and other hardware. In addition to the sale of solar systems, we also offer the option of renting solar systems. This allows homeowners to enjoy the benefits of solar energy without having to make the high initial investment. With our hire-purchase model, we also take over the maintenance and monitoring of the installed solar systems. This ensures optimal operation and maximum energy production over the entire service life of the system. With the Otovo app, we offer our customers the ability to monitor and control energy production and usage so that they can optimize their energy costs and maximize the efficiency of their solar systems.

What strategic advantages do you see in the partnership with Elli and how does this collaboration fit into Otovo's overall strategy?

Andreas Thorsheim: The energy transition can only succeed if it affects all areas of people's lives - mobility is crucial. Our goal at Otovo is to simplify and promote the use of solar energy by lowering the barriers to accessing renewable energy and making the installation of solar systems accessible to a broader target group. Electromobility is becoming an increasingly important part of this, which we are addressing through our partnership with Elli.

"Our partnership also symbolizes the importance of collaboration and the need to think beyond traditional product boundaries"

How will this partnership benefit Otovo's customers? Can you name any specific benefits or new offers that could result from the cooperation?

Andreas Thorsheim: From August 2024, Volkswagen customers can simply purchase a PV system when they buy the new Elli Charger 2 and then have both installed by an Otovo solar installer. The wallbox and solar storage unit are coordinated so that the car can be charged directly with surplus solar power, which saves charging costs. At night, the car can be charged with cheap grid electricity if required, while the solar power is stored in the house battery for the next morning.

Conversely, we inform customers about Elli's charging options on our platform. When consumers use our platform to find out about solar energy for their home, we also provide them with information about charging their electric car with the solar power they generate themselves. 

What challenges and opportunities do you see in integrating the technologies of both companies, particularly with regard to optimizing the use of solar energy for charging electric vehicles?

Andreas Thorsheim: The supply of renewable energy in the private sector often requires high investments that not everyone can afford. This is a major challenge that we at Otovo are tackling together with our partnership with Elli. Our goal is to create solutions that make solar energy the best option for everyone and every situation.

Our partnership also symbolizes the importance of collaboration and the need to think beyond traditional product boundaries.

Using energy when it’s cheapest? Nothing could be easier: Elli’s intelligent solutions automatically optimize charging times for the best electricity price. More information can be found here.