SOLUM Energy: Transforming EV Charging into a Smart Retail Experience

When people think about electric vehicle charging, they usually think about power, speed, and reliability. But what if a charging station could do much more? What if it could also become a communication platform, a digital point of sale, and a new revenue source for operators?

That vision convinced the jury of the eMove360° Award. In 2023, SoluM Europe GmbH, a subsidiary of Samsung, won the eMove360° Award for Electric & Autonomous Mobility in the category Charging & Energy with its innovative SOLUM Retail EV Charger.

EV Charging Meets Retail

The SOLUM Retail EV Charger combines high-performance EV charging with a large interactive full-screen display. While vehicles are charging, the system can present advertisements, promotional offers, product information, and customer interaction features directly on the charging station.

This approach creates a completely new business model for charging infrastructure operators. Instead of generating revenue solely through electricity sales, charging stations can also become digital retail and advertising platforms, improving return on investment and accelerating the business case for new charging projects.

As SOLUM describes it:

“Your customer at your fingertips.”

Designed for Interaction

The futuristic design of the charger was inspired by the flowing curves of sports cars and spacecraft. Dynamic LED lighting integrated into the housing provides visual feedback and allows users to immediately recognize charging status and vehicle connection, even from a distance.

The charger can also be customized to match corporate branding, including colors, logos, and other design elements, making it an attractive solution for retailers, shopping centers, service stations, and commercial charging operators.

Future-Proof Technology

Beyond its retail capabilities, SOLUM developed the underlying DC V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) power module technology, enabling future bidirectional energy applications. This means electric vehicles could eventually not only consume electricity but also return energy to the grid when economically beneficial.

The concept also includes advanced monitoring capabilities for power modules, charging processes, battery status, and energy flows, creating a smart and efficient charging ecosystem.

Sustainability and Economic Benefits

SOLUM’s approach addresses two key challenges facing charging infrastructure:

• Creating attractive customer experiences
• Improving economic efficiency for operators

Additional advertising and retail revenues can significantly improve project profitability, while the use of recycled PET materials contributes to sustainability goals.

The combination of charging, digital communication, retail functionality, and future V2G capabilities demonstrates how charging infrastructure can evolve from a utility into a multifunctional mobility platform.

Why the Jury Recognized SOLUM

The eMove360° Award jury honored SOLUM because the solution goes beyond traditional charging infrastructure. It combines charging technology, digital retail, customer interaction, future energy management, and attractive industrial design in a single product, creating new opportunities for both operators and EV drivers.

Join the Community of Winners

The mobility industry is evolving rapidly through electrification, AI, connected vehicles, autonomous driving, battery innovation, and smart charging solutions.

If your company, startup, university, or research institution is developing innovative products or services in these fields, now is the time to participate in the eMove360° Award for Electric & Autonomous Mobility 2026.

Follow in the footsteps of award winners such as SOLUM Energy, Kia, Farasis Energy, Volvo Trucks, NIO, Karsan,  Octopus Energy, and many more. The award offers international visibility, media coverage, presentation opportunities, and recognition from a distinguished expert jury.

Apply now:
eMove360° Award 2026

Join our community of winners and help shape the future of electric, connected, autonomous and AI-driven mobility.