Charging station manufacturer FLO lays off 15% of its employees
This is the third round of layoffs in less than a year at the Quebec company.
For the third time in less than a year, FLO, the Quebec-based manufacturer of electric vehicle charging stations, is reducing its workforce. Nearly 80 employees, or 15% of its staff, will be laid off as part of a company reorganization aimed at better positioning FLO for future growth, according to spokesperson Maude Blouin.
The layoffs affect both the Canadian and U.S. offices of the company. Despite receiving several subsidies, this is the third instance in less than a year where FLO has cut jobs. In December 2023, the company temporarily laid off 8% of its workforce in Shawinigan, followed by a 10% reduction in May 2024.
FLO has not disclosed its current number of employees after the latest reduction, but it is estimated that around 400 staff members remain.
Founded in 2009 under the name AddÉnergie, FLO has sold thousands of charging terminals, providing over 90,000 charging ports across North America. Over 20% of the company’s revenue comes from the U.S., where it has operated a factory since 2022.
FLO is partly owned by the Caisse de dépôt, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, and the Quebec government. In April 2023, the company secured a $220 million loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank to expand its network of charging stations. The company is also the official supplier of terminals for the Circuit électrique network in Quebec.
In addition, FLO received a $6 million grant from Quebec in March 2023 to support the development of its next-generation fast charging stations. The cost of manufacturing and installing a single terminal can exceed $100,000, and the company aims to amortize these costs over several years.
