---
title: "Volvo Invests In Electric-Car Charging Company FreeWire"
description: "The Volvo Cars Tech Fund is backing FreeWire, which markets mobile charging stations for electric cars."
date: "2018-10-25"
modified: "2018-10-25"
authors:
  - name: "Stephen Edelstein"
    job_title: "Weekend Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/stephen-edelstein"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/tech/24453/volvo-invests-in-electric-car-charging-company-freewire"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "charging"
  - "Electric Cars"
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "investment"
  - "Volvo"
---

# Volvo Invests In Electric-Car Charging Company FreeWire

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/10/240057_volvo_cars_tech_fund_invests_in_electric_car_charging_company_freewire.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

Volvo is investing in [FreeWire Technologies](<https://freewiretech.com/>), a San Francisco-based company developing fast-charging technology for electric cars. The automaker did not detail the size of its stake in FreeWire, but the investment will help lay the groundwork for the its [ambitious electrification plans](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/12138/volvo-declares-end-of-internal-combustion-engine-electrifying-fleet-starting-in-2019>).

FreeWire's charging stations use a more flexible design than some competitors. The company's Mobi charging stations can be wheeled around on small carts. They can be plugged into standard low-voltage power outlets but still charge electric cars at higher voltages comparable to conventional stations, FreeWire claims. Because they don't require a dedicated connection to the grid, these stations create less of a hassle for operators, Volvo noted in a press release.

FreeWire currently has a Level 2 AC station, and plans to add DC fast-charging stations that can charge at a reported 120 kilowatts. That's enough to add 480 miles of range in one hour, according to the company.

Volvo has a need for more public charging stations. Beginning in 2019, it will launch only electrified powertrains for new vehicles, including a mix of mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric configurations. The automaker plans to launch its [first all-electric production car](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/21748/xc40-will-be-first-all-electric-volvo-executive-says>) around the same time, and expects fully-electric cars to make up 50 percent of its global sales by 2025.

The investment in FreeWire was set up through the [Volvo Cars Tech Fund](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/18896/volvo-launches-investment-fund-aimed-at-tech-startups>), which was established specifically to invest in tech startups. Areas of focus include artificial intelligence, electrification, autonomous driving tech, and digital mobility services, according to Volvo. The tech fund previously [invested in lidar manufacturer Luminar](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/21521/lidar-maker-luminar-gets-backing-from-volvo>), with the aim of using Luminar's lidar sensors in future Volvo cars.

## Author
Stephen has always been passionate about cars, and managed to turn that passion into a career as a freelance automotive journalist. When he's not handling weekend coverage for The Drive, you can find him looking for a new book to read.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/SAEdelstein>)