BMW i Ventures Announces Strategic Investment in Coulomb Technologies
July 24, 2012
For Immediate Release
New York, NY (July 24, 2012) – BMW i Ventures today announced that it is making a strategic investment in Coulomb Technologies. Coulomb’s ChargePoint is the largest online global charging network, connecting electric vehicle drivers to charging stations in more than 14 countries. The investment by BMW supports the development of infrastructure for plug-in electric vehicles. ChargePoint provides the most feature-rich solution for station owners and EV drivers alike, with innovations in software services from mobile applications to vehicle telematics. ChargePoint’s charging solutions provide station owners the tools they need to help better manage their charging services, including the ability to locate and reserve stations, set pricing, process payments, track station utilization and energy costs and provide driver support.
“We are delighted to have one of the world’s premier automakers join our investor team,” said Pat Romano, president and CEO of Coulomb Technologies. “We look forward to working with BMW to expand our global footprint and help support the adoption of electric vehicles worldwide.” “BMW i Ventures recognizes the importance of a global charging network for electric vehicle drivers,” said Dr. Ulrich Quay, Managing Director of BMW i Ventures.
“BMW is focused on providing comprehensive services that make the charging of BMW electric vehicles a premium experience. ChargePoint is the largest, longest established network with a significantly advanced and mature feature set. This investment will forge a close and strategic relationship as we further our electric mobility offer.”
About ChargePoint
ChargePoint is creating a new fueling network to move people and goods on electricity. Since 2007, ChargePoint has been committed to making it easy for businesses and drivers to go electric with one of the largest EV charging networks and a comprehensive portfolio of charging solutions available today. ChargePoint’s cloud subscription platform and software-defined charging hardware are designed to include options for every charging scenario from home and multifamily to workplace, parking, hospitality, retail and transport fleets of all types. For more information, visit the ChargePoint pressroom, the ChargePoint Investor Relations site, or contact ChargePoint’s North American or European press offices or Investor Relations.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact or relating to present facts or current conditions included in this press release are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the offering. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “seek,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “will,” “may,” “could,” “continue,” “likely,” “should,” and other words.
The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include regional, national or global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory conditions and the following: we are an early stage company with a history of losses, and expect to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the near term; we may fail to grow effectively; we face competition from a number of companies and expect to face significant competition in the future; we may fail to effectively expand our sales and marketing capabilities; we face risks related to health pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic; we rely on a limited number of suppliers and manufacturers for our charging stations; our business is subject to risks associated with construction, cost overruns and delays; future acquisitions or strategic investments could be difficult to identify and integrate, divert the attention of key management personnel, disrupt our business and dilute stockholder value; we may be unable to attract and retain key employees and hire qualified management, technical, engineering and sales personnel; we are expanding operations internationally, which will expose us to additional tax, compliance, market and other risks; some members of our management have limited experience in operating a public company; we may need to raise additional funds and these funds may not be available when needed; our future revenue growth will depend on our ability to increase sales of our products and services; we are vulnerable to possible computer malware, viruses, ransomware, hacking, phishing attacks and similar disruptions; our headquarters and other facilities are located in an active earthquake zone; seasonality may cause fluctuations in our revenue; our future growth and success is correlated with and dependent upon the continuing rapid adoption of EVs for passenger and fleet applications; the EV market benefits from the availability of rebates, tax credits and other financial incentives from governments, utilities and others to offset the purchase or operating costs; we may be unable to protect our technology and intellectual property from unauthorized use by third-parties; some of our products contain open-source software, which may pose particular risks to our proprietary software, products and services; we may be unable to remediate our material weaknesses or internal control over financial reporting; the concentration of ownership among our existing executive officers, directors and their affiliates may prevent new investors from influencing significant corporate decisions; we have never paid cash dividends on our capital stock and do not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future; the price of our Common Stock may be subject to wide fluctuations; the coverage of our business or our securities by securities or industry analysts or the absence thereof could adversely affect the trading price and volume of our Common Stock and other securities; sales of a substantial number of shares of our Common Stock by our existing stockholders could cause the price of the Common Stock to decline; our warrants accounted for as a warrant liability; our limited operating history as a public company; our dependence on widespread acceptance and adoption of EVs and increased installation of charging stations at home, at work and on-route; our current dependence on sales of charging stations for most of our revenues; overall demand for EV charging and the potential for reduced demand for EVs if governmental rebates, tax credits and other financial incentives are reduced, modified or eliminated or governmental mandates to increase the use of EVs or decrease the use of vehicles powered by fossil fuels, either directly or indirectly through mandated limits on carbon emissions, are reduced, modified or eliminated; supply chain interruptions; our ability to expand internationally; the need to attract additional fleet operators as customers; potential adverse effects on our revenue and gross margins if customers increasingly claim clean energy credits and, as a result, they are no longer available to be claimed by us; the effects of competition; and the risk that our technology could have undetected defects or errors.
Although we have attempted to identify important risk factors, there may be other risk factors not presently known to us or that we presently believe are not material that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. If any of these risks materialize, or if any of the above assumptions underlying forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results and developments may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date on which we make it. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indications of future performance, unless specifically expressed as such, and should be viewed as historical data.
Press
- Olivia Marcinka
- Communications Specialist
- Olivia.marcinka@chargepoint.com
- media@chargepoint.com
Investor Relations
- Patrick Hamer
- VP, Capital Markets and Investor Relations
- Patrick.hamer@chargepoint.com
About BMW i Ventures
BMW i Ventures is BMW Group’s Venture Capital unit and is based in New York City. BMW i Ventures invests in early and mid-stage high-potential companies in the area of Mobility Services. These are services that make mobility smarter, more efficient and more flexible. The company aims for strategic, long-term partnerships in particular in the areas of e-mobility, navigation, parking, car sharing and intermodal mobility solutions.
BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 139 BMW motorcycle retailers, 114 MINI passenger car dealers, and 32 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at: www.bmwgroupna.com
Journalist note: Information about BMW Group and its products in the USA is available to journalists on-line at www.bmwgroupusanews.com and www.press.bmwna.com.
About Braemar Energy Ventures
Founded in 2003, Braemar Energy Ventures is a leading venture capital firm focused on investing in transformative energy-tech and related companies contributing to global sustainability and combating climate change. Using sector expertise and experience, Braemar aims to be an engaged partner with its portfolio companies to best help them navigate the path to creating significant global impact. For more information, visit braemarenergy.com.