The 'Einfach E-Auto' team
© Einfach E-Auto

Einfach E-Auto: Clear Answers About Buying an Electric Car

The startup ‘Einfach E-Auto’ wants to make the transition to electric cars easier with its platform. We talked about motivation and challenges with Julian Feser, co-founder and Head of Business Development of the Munich mobility startup.

Munich Startup: Who are you and what does ‘Einfach E-Auto’ do? Please introduce yourselves! 

Julian Feser: ‘Einfach E-Auto’ is an internet platform that makes the transition to electromobility as easy for new-car customers as booking an all-inclusive vacation.

We not only give customers a free innovative needs assessment using artificial intelligence (AI), but also a custom-tailored eMobility package that includes an electric car, a wallbox, installation, a charging rate, grants and even an electricity rate and electric car insurance.

All roads lead to eMobility

We founders, Konstantin Dietzel (30), Sebastian Dietzel (28), Dennis Lindauer (29) and I, Julian Feser (28), have known each other for more than 17 years. During that time, we all completed our studies and gained initial work experience. What’s interesting is that all of our career paths led us to eMobility.

After studying engineering at the Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences, Dennis worked for Tesla in California for three years. During my studies at the Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt, I worked at a joint venture of BMW and Viessmann – Digital Energy Solutions. The company focuses on intelligent charging solutions in the B2B realm. Konstantin completed his master’s program in finance and strategy at the University of St. Gallen and wrote his thesis on digital business models in the energy and automotive industries. And our techie Sebastian already worked on scalable software solutions at BMW while studying business analytics and data research at the Ingolstadt School of Management (WFI). 

AI-based answers instead of doubts about eMobility

Julian Feser
‘Einfach E-Auto’ co-founder Julian Feser

Munich Startup: What problem does your startup solve?

Julian Feser: From our own experience, conversations with friends and discussions with customers, we noticed that a lot of people are interested in electromobility. At the moment, however, false information about the range and costs of electric cars, new topics such as charging solutions and charging options as well as a lack of competent consultants are keeping private customers from transitioning to electric cars.

With us, customers receive clear answers and solutions to questions such as: ‘Which electric car suits me best? What range do I need? Can I take a road trip with an electric car? Where can I charge my electric car? How does a wallbox work? Do I need a special electricity rate? What grant programs are available?

With the founding of ‘Einfach E-Auto,’ the AI-based needs assessment and custom-tailored eMobility package, we help our customers enjoy a carefree transition to eMobility. Our customers also have a competent and independent consultant by their side the entire time who knows all the details about eMobility. That saves a lot of time and energy.

Fared well during the crisis thanks to a digital business model

Munich Startup: But that’s nothing out of the box!

Julian Feser: We obviously aren’t in a vacuum. There are various online providers who offer new cars digitally. But they only offer cars without any of the other elements that go along with electromobility, such as a location analysis, wallboxes, charging cards for charging on the go or green electricity contracts. For these providers, it’s often just about passing on a car – you won’t find any product consultation or customer service.

Now that some energy providers are offering electricity contracts and charging solutions, individual building blocks are being offered in the value-added chain, but they almost exclusively rely on analog processes. There also isn’t any individualization, there’s a predefined package, regardless of whether it’s suitable or not. Some car manufacturers also offer downstream products, but they are understandably only available to customers of that particular brand and usually come with a hefty mark-up. We offer our customers independent consultation and all brands to meet their needs.

Munich Startup: What have been your three biggest challenges so far? 

Julian Feser: I would say, as is the case for many startups, landing and processing the first accounts was a big challenge. Along with further development and completion of the platform. And then of course there’s the corona crisis, which has put the entire industry under a certain amount of pressure. Our advantage is that we rely on a digital business model, which means we can help our partners go digital and support them in tough times with our know-how.

‘Einfach E-Auto’ is picking up speed

Munich Startup: How is business going? Can you give us some facts and figures?

Julian Feser: Business is starting to pick up speed and is developing just as rapidly as the registration figures for electric vehicles. We primarily used last year to understand the needs of our customers, revise the website and talk with our partners about how we can get eMobility on the road even faster.

Since July 2020, we’ve been actively contacting customers and are expanding our marketing and sales activities. We had a very exciting promotion for business leasing with the Renault dealer in Munich in July. Within 24 hours, 39 Renault Zoes found new owners. The promotion went so well that we’re currently talking about another larger-scale deal with a larger quantity of vehicles.

Munich Startup: What do you think about Munich as a startup location?

Julian Feser: The city of Munich has all the necessary prerequisites: outstanding universities, a thriving economy with international companies and SMEs. We also have spectacular recreational opportunities to recharge our batteries. I think that’s why the scene just keeps growing. The opportunities for making the right contacts and sharing experience with other founders are also getting better and better. That’s why we’re very pleased with Munich as a startup city.

Munich Startup: Public transportation or bike?

Julian Feser: Definitely bike!