EDF, which did not disclose the financial terms of the acquisition, said the deal would allow it to become a leader in the fast-growing field of battery storage.

Pivot Power is looking at means to host a battery capable of exporting 50 megawatts (MW) of power and to provide support for hundreds of fast electric vehicle chargers, which could be suitable for large retail sites, logistics centres, and bus depots.

The takeover of Pivot Power also follows EDF's acquisition in September of U.S. electric vehicle technology company PowerFlex Systems.

(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, editing by Louise Heavens)