Welcome to another episode of Destination:Charging, a podcast by Powerdot! In this episode, Afonso Ramos, co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Powerdot, sits down with Frank Lauenstein, Managing Director and Head of Sales at Plugsurfing, one of Europe’s pioneering e-mobility service providers (EMSP). Join us as we explore Plugsurfing's journey from a Berlin-based startup to a pan-European EMP with a strong OEM and fleet focus. Frank shares his perspective on the shift back to a focused EMSP strategy, the evolving demands of fleet managers, and how destination charging plays a central role in a seamless EV driver experience. In this engaging conversation, we explore: The origins of Plugsurfing and the meaning behind its name How the company evolved from a B2C app to an OEM partner powerhouse Why they shifted focus back to EMSP-only in 2022 The importance of customization and flexibility for OEM relationships How Plugsurfing serves small to large-scale EV fleets The growing significance of destination charging in everyday life What an ideal CPO looks like from an EMSP perspective The future of EV charging: plug & charge, data integration, and embedded payment systems 🔗 Connect with Frank Lauenstein:Website: https://www.plugsurfing.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franklauenstein/ 🔗 Connect with Powerdot:Website: https://powerdot.eu/Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/power-dot/ Stay tuned for more episodes and join our mission to accelerate sustainable mobility. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights from industry leaders! Timestamps00:00 - Meet Frank Lauenstein from Plugsurfing01:30 - The origins and early vision behind Plugsurfing03:20 - Nordic connection and acquisition by Fortum06:00 - Strategic shift back to EMSP focus09:20 - Understanding the value of OEM customization13:50 - How plug & charge and APIs enhance the user experience17:30 - Managing EV fleets and fleet manager priorities21:00 - The beauty and value of destination charging26:00 - OEMs and their evolving role in destination use cases30:00 - Future services: maintenance, parking, and value layering34:30 - Plug & charge adoption and roadmap38:00 - Emerging trends in embedded payments and integration41:00 - Ideal CPO characteristics and subscription considerations44:00 - Closing remarks and what's next for Plugsurfing Thank you for listening to Destination:Charging. For more insights and to stay connected with our mission to accelerate sustainable mobility, please visit our show notes for links and further resources. Don't forget to review and subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Until next time, and keep moving forward with Destination:Charging.