(Yicai Global) May 8 -- Enel X Way, the electric vehicle charging pile unit of Italian distributor of electricity and gas Enel Group, has updated its Asia-Pacific strategy to focus on China and Chinese EV makers.

Enel X will adopt the mode of ‘made in China and export overseas,’ meaning that it will produce charging piles that meet the Chinese standards in China and export those meeting the European, Southeast Asian, and Pacific region standards to satisfy the rising demand for charging piles for Chinese EVs, Yicai Global learned from the company.

Enel X recently released its business strategy for the Asia-Pacific market and updated its China headquarters, established in Shanghai in 2019, to its Asia-Pacific operation center.

As Chinese carmakers go international, they have new demand for charging facilities in foreign countries, such as high-quality charging piles that are in line with local laws and regulations and technical standards, Gianmaria Riccardi, head of global sales at Enel X, told Yicai Global. They also favor one-stop services, which brings opportunities for Enel X to develop its business in China, he added.

China exported 679,000 electric cars last year. But the EV-to-charging pile ratio was only 21:1 in the United States and 8.5:1 in the European Union as of April last year, according to a research report by Everbright Securities. Therefore, some carmakers chose to build self-operated charging piles overseas to make charging more convenient.

Also Chinese charging pile makers, such as Hangzhou Sunrise Technology and Autel Intelligent Technology, have been exploring overseas markets since last year. However, their foreign competitors still have the upper hand.

Overseas charging pile firms have advantages in terms of obtaining certifications abroad, which is the first challenge Chinese firms need to tackle if they wish to expand in the global market, and knowledge of the foreign markets, an insider at a Chinese charging pile maker told Yicai Global.

On the other hand, Chinese firms are more competitive in terms of costs and manufacturing, the person added.

Based on the above premise, some Chinese charging pile makers have chosen to cooperate with foreign counterparts to co-develop their businesses in foreign markets.

For example, Shenzhen Sinexcel Electric passed the European standard certification for its Interstellar AC chargers as it joined hands with BP last year to become one of the first Chinese charging pile suppliers of the UK oil and gas giant.

Editor: Futura Costaglione