The reasoning behind the partnership is straightforward. Most charger manufacturers do not need a controller designed from a blank sheet. They need a proven base that fits their product, their mechanics and their interfaces, and they need it quickly. The three partners provide exactly that, using pre-validated building blocks: Pionix’s ChargeBridge and the controller reference design, running the open-source EVerest charging stack.

From days to a proof of concept, weeks to a prototype

Customers run a first proof of concept in days rather than weeks, using development kits and their existing hardware. From there, a functional prototype takes weeks rather than months. That shift changes what a product roadmap can realistically commit to.

The cost effect runs deeper than engineering hours. Bringing charging logic, compute and interfaces onto a single PCB removes much of the internal wiring and assembly work inside the charger, which lowers manufacturing cost and reduces the connection points that cause field failures. Over the product lifetime, new features and new standards arrive through OTA updates rather than a hardware redesign, so the controller holds its value instead of forcing a new board revision every time requirements shift.

What each partner brings

Pionix contributes the EVerest charging stack, the ChargeBridge building block, the controller reference design, and the cloud services that keep deployed chargers updated and secure.

AST-X takes the customer project from definition through to production, covering hardware and PCB engineering, mechanics, qualification and manufacturing.

Solectrix adds embedded software and Linux expertise, including BSP development and system integration. AST-X and Solectrix both belong to the AXSELION Group, which keeps hardware and software development under one roof rather than across a subcontractor chain.

Quotes

Marco Möller, CEO Pionix: “Time to Market as well as fulfilling new regulations like AFIR and CRA are critical succeed factors for EV-Charger manufacturers, with EVerest and ChargeBridge help our customers to me faster with lower cost, this partnership takes this further to develop custom Charger controllers with low cost.”

Stefan Schütz, Managing Director of AST-X and Solectrix: “Charger manufacturers should not have to choose between speed and a controller tailored to their product. By combining AST-X’s hardware development and industrialization capabilities with Solectrix’s embedded Linux and system integration expertise, we can adapt a proven reference design to the customer’s actual requirements and take it all the way through validation, series production and long-term lifecycle support.”

Availability

The offering is available now. Manufacturers can start by evaluating the reference system before committing to a custom development.

Please find more information on the MODULAR EVSE CONTROLLER PLATFORM here.

About Pionix

Pionix GmbH is the driving force behind EVerest, the leading open source software stack for EV charging infrastructure. With more than 100,000 chargers running EVerest in the field, Pionix is shaping the future of interoperable, reliable, and scalable EV charging. Pionix is an active contributor to and steward of the EVerest community under the Linux Foundation Energy umbrella.

Based on Everest, Pionix offers Integration Services, HW Modules and Cloud Services for EV Charger manufacturers.

About AST-X

AST-X is a full-service-partner for the development and industrialization of sophisticated electronic systems. Headquartered in Forchheim, Germany, the company combines extensive expertise in embedded hardware and software development, printed circuit board design, mechanical engineering, qualification, and technical documentation.

AST-X supports its customers throughout the entire product development process, from initial requirements definition and concept development through prototyping and validation to series production readiness. Together with its parent company and manufacturing partner ASSDEV, AST-X also provides prototype and series production. Product maintenance, lifecycle management, and obsolescence management ensure reliable support beyond the start of production. 

About Solectrix GmbH

Solectrix is an innovative, independent full-service provider for embedded electronics, based in Germany, with comprehensive expertise in hardware, firmware, and software. The company develops electronic components, devices, and complete systems tailored to individual customer requirements – efficiently, reliably, and in compliance with relevant standards.

Its embedded software expertise also covers Linux-based systems, including BSP development and system integration. Solectrix supports customers throughout the entire product lifecycle, from consulting and development to production, certification, lifecycle management, and support.