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3M lines of COBOL → clear specs in 8 weeks.
How one app put unused home chargers to work.
The Plug Inn app connected drivers and charger owners through a new peer-to-peer charging model.
tons CO2e prevented by 2030
downloads in first month
users in first month
As a pioneer of electric vehicles since 2010, Renault is proudly at the forefront of mobility. So they wanted to remove one of the practical barriers holding back electric driving: finding a convenient place to charge. Public charging networks were growing, but thousands of private charging points were already sitting outside homes across France, often unused for much of the day.
Together with Publicis Sapient and Publicis Conseil, Renault saw a way to make the existing EV infrastructure work harder. They empowered drivers all over Europe to travel confidently with the peer-to-peer (P2P) home rental of EV charging.
Even with the proliferation of electric vehicles, drivers were anxious about going long distances due to the scarcity of charging stations. Renault sought to fill this gap by investing in an innovative digital solution. Inspired by the sharing economy’s leading platforms, we discovered an opportunity to connect people who have idle electric charging stations at home with people who travel in electric vehicles of all brands.
Publicis Sapient partnered with Renault to first define a viable solution in just eight weeks for a peer-to-peer charging point booking service. From the vision, business case and MVP defined in this stage, we created Plug Inn: the first electric recharge network that connects people to home charging stations.
Our strategy and experience teams further researched drivers, informing product, engineering and experience design to define and prioritize features. Data capabilities ensure Renault is not only reaching KPIs, but also continually refining the app to facilitate the EV experience.
Through a Lean Startup approach, we constantly tested and iterated on the model and experience to reduce risk, improve quality and shorten the delivery cycle—ultimately ensuring that the experience was seamless, all users were verified and pricing was fair.
In just one year, Plug Inn was live. This seamless and intuitive shared charging experience has the power to accelerate EV adoption and upgrade driver experiences while cultivating a friendly, trustworthy community of EV drivers that reinforces Renault’s brand.
Drivers enjoy seamless alternative charging at their fingertips, at a fraction of the commercial price, while home charging point suppliers have a simple way to capture revenue from their existing charger.
Renault Group has emerged as the leader and the key enabler in building the underlying foundation of a more sustainable European mobility ecosystem—one that enables more travel with less costly infrastructure—all while benefiting from a profitable new service-based business model.
Most importantly, we continue to work together to build the road to a more sustainable future.
"
Instead of waiting for the perfect world of electric charging infrastructure, with Publicis Sapient we found a way to adapt to the circumstances and build the future we wished to see. The principles of our design—trust, usefulness, flexibility, reliability, safety and simplicity—were also key tenets of our partnership in this endeavor. Together we are driving more enthusiasm and trust in electric vehicles as a whole and our brand specifically, built on values like community and a sharing economy.
"— Arnaud Belloni
Global Chief Marketing Officer, Renault
Awards
Recognized on Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas 2024
Transportation and Apps Categories
René Thomas-Nelson
Senior Director, Customer Experience & Innovation
