08.07.2026
The energy industry is gradually moving from a model of individual products to a model of interconnected services and technologies.
Electromobility no longer exists separately from the energy source. Businesses are increasingly asking not only about the price, but also about the origin of electricity. And suppliers are changing their role – from selling a resource to creating comprehensive solutions.
The Tolk Group is among those who are already working in this logic: developing a network of electric charging stations, implementing the “Green Brand” and forming approaches where all elements of modern energy begin to work as a single system.
Andriy Gorbkovy, head of the sales department for business clients of Tolk Ukraine LLC, told about what this system looks like in practice in an interview with the Energobusiness publication.
— If you look at electromobility, “green” energy and business needs, are they still different stories or are they already one?
— They are already coming together. And, to be honest, faster than it seems.
A few years ago, these were separate topics: electric cars are about transport, “green” energy is about ecology or state policy, and business is about price.
Today, these are already elements of one system. Electromobility is directly related to the development of clean energy. Businesses want proof of its origin. And the supplier must offer a comprehensive solution.
— And this is where the logic for developing the Tolk charging station network came from?
— Exactly. We didn’t start with the idea of “let’s install charging stations.” We looked at customer behavior. When businesses or private consumers get electric vehicles, new questions arise: where to charge, how will this affect electricity consumption, will there be enough power. For us, the development of Electric Vehicle infrastructure has become a natural extension of our core business as an electricity supplier.
— Tolk is a large electricity supplier. How exactly does this status help develop the EV direction?
— Our main advantage is that we came to this market not as a startup, but as a company with many years of experience in the energy sector.
We have a good understanding of the processes of electricity procurement, balancing, consumption forecasting and working with large customers. This allows us to more effectively manage costs and build a long-term network development model.
This experience allows us to look at electromobility not as a separate service, but as a logical continuation of the energy business.
— What has already been done in practice?
— Today, the Tolk network has 16 charging locations in different regions of Ukraine: in Kyiv and the region, in Volyn, in Transcarpathia, in Chernivtsi.
At the same time, not only the number is important to us. We analyze real demand points, available capacity, load on the network and user behavior. That is why each new location is part of a well-thought-out energy infrastructure, and not just a separate object.
— What is the main difficulty in network development today?
— In the balance between demand and available capacity. Fast charging is 50, 100 kW and more. If there are several such stations at one point, there is a significant load on the local network. Thanks to our experience in the energy sector, we can assess the available capacities, connection prospects and the economics of the facility even at the design stage.
In many cases, the solution is not only to increase the contracted capacity, but also to use load management systems, energy storage and smart power distribution between charging ports.
— You are currently actively working in Central and Western Ukraine. Does Tolk plan to scale the network to key national highways (for example, M-06, M-05)?
— Today, it is in these regions that interest from the tourist and recreational business is growing most actively. At the same time, our strategy is not limited to them. We are also considering the development of the network along the main transport routes. It is important for us not just to install charging stations, but to create comfortable service points where drivers really need them. Electromobility is gradually becoming one of the key areas of development of modern energy.
In parallel, we are working on the integration of charging infrastructure with other energy services – energy storage systems, digital platforms and solutions in the field of renewable energy.
— Tolk Group declares that the EV direction is not a commercial business for it. Why?
— We look at charging infrastructure not as a separate business, but as one of the elements of the future energy ecosystem.
That is why for usit is important not only to build your own network, but also to attract partners who share the same standards of quality and service. This model allows you to expand the geography of the network, while maintaining a unified approach to customer experience and service reliability. We see this as an investment in the development of the electromobility market and modern energy infrastructure in general. Therefore, the key success criteria for us remain consumer trust, brand reputation and long-term value for the client, rather than short-term profitability of a separate direction.
In this sense, the EV direction is part of the long-term strategy of the Tolk Group for the development of modern energy services and technologies of a clean future.
— What does a business that becomes a partner with Tolk in the development of charging infrastructure get?
— Today, a charging station is no longer just a service for electric vehicles. For hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, sports complexes or tourist locations, it becomes a tool for attracting new customers and increasing their loyalty. In practice, we see that electric vehicle drivers more often choose establishments where charging is available and spend more time at the locations. Therefore, for partners it is not only about electricity, but also about competitive advantages, additional client flow and modern business image.
— The Ukrainian market is rapidly filling up with Chinese-made electric vehicles. What is your strategy regarding the GB/T standard?
— For us, it is a matter of customer service. We carefully monitor the structure of the fleet at our locations and gradually adapt the infrastructure to real demand.
At the same time, issues of safety, equipment certification and compliance with European standards remain fundamentally important.
Given the active growth of the share of Chinese electric vehicles on the Ukrainian market, the issue of developing the relevant infrastructure remains one of our priorities.
— How relevant are BESS and solar generation for you?
— The market is moving precisely in the direction of integrating charging infrastructure with storage and renewable energy.
Today, such solutions have already proven their effectiveness in many countries around the world. They allow reducing the load on the network, using electricity more efficiently, and increasing the economic efficiency of the charging infrastructure.
So far, the implementation of such projects requires significant investments, but with the decrease in the cost of storage devices, their economics are becoming more and more attractive. Therefore, we carefully analyze such solutions and assess the possibilities of their practical application in our future projects.
— To what extent can charging infrastructure become an element of the energy sustainability of communities in wartime?
— For Ukraine, this issue already goes far beyond electromobility. In the face of constant attacks on energy infrastructure, local energy solutions that can provide autonomy and power backup are becoming increasingly important. A modern charging location can potentially become part of such a local energy hub that combines charging infrastructure, energy storage devices, and renewable generation. In the future, such facilities can help support the operation of critical services, provide backup power for individual facilities, and increase the overall energy sustainability of communities. That is why the development of EV infrastructure for us is not just a service for electric vehicle owners, but one of the components of the future architecture of Ukraine’s energy security.
— How does Tolk’s “Green Mark” work in this logic?
— This is a way to make a complex mechanism understandable to the client. Behind it are guarantees of origin of electricity — certificates that confirm that the corresponding volume of electricity was generated from renewable sources. In fact, each kilowatt has its own confirmed history of origin. Tolk Group is systematically increasing the share of electricity from renewable sources in its portfolio. Already today, every fifth kilowatt of electricity supplied by Tolk is generated from the sun, wind, or water. The demand for certified “green” electricity from Ukrainian businesses is steadily growing, especially from companies that work with European partners and report on ESG indicators.
That is why the “Green Mark” is gradually becoming not only an environmental but also a business tool for increasing the competitiveness of companies.
— How much is Ukrainian business willing to pay for “green” electricity today?
— A few years ago, it was more of a matter of reputation. Today, it is increasingly becoming a business requirement.
Ukrainian companies that work with international partners, enter export markets or attract investments are increasingly required to confirm the origin of the electricity they consumeThat is why the demand for such solutions continues to grow.
— If we look at the future of 3–5 years, what will the EV market be like?
— The Ukrainian charging infrastructure market will become much more professional and consolidated. We will see large networks with uniform quality standards, digital services and a high level of reliability. At the same time, the main change will not be in the charging itself. The approach to energy in general will change.
The consumer will increasingly separate electricity supply, charging infrastructure, energy storage or renewable generation into separate services. All this will work as a single system. That is why Tolk’s strategy is not only to develop a network of charging stations. We are building a comprehensive energy ecosystem that will combine energy supply, electromobility, energy storage, digital solutions and business decarbonization tools.
In our opinion, it is precisely such integrated models that are the future of the Ukrainian energy market.
Energy Club dossier:
Andriy Horbkovy, Head of Sales Department for Business Clients, LLC “Tolk Ukraine”. Born on December 8, 1988 in Lviv. Higher education: Lviv Commercial Academy, specialty – Organizational Management.
Career: PrivatBank; private energy supply companies; Tolk Group.
Reference:
The International Group of Companies Tolk is an association of energy supply companies, a top leader among 1,100 electricity suppliers in Ukraine.
This is almost 900 thousand customers and over 3.2 million MWh of electricity per year.
The Group of Companies Tolk is a member of the Energy Club.
