Browse Tag

electric vehicles

3 mins read

ChargerHelp! Raises $17.5M to Meet Growing EV Charging Industry Demand

ChargerHelp!, a company that provides operations, maintenance, and workforce development services for the electric vehicle (EV) industry, has announced that it has raised $17.5M in Series A financing.

The investment round was led by Blue Bear Capital, with participation from Aligned Climate Capital, Exelon Corporation, and previous investors including Energy Impact Partners and non sibi ventures.

chargerhelp!
ChargerHelp! co-founders Evette Ellis, Chief Workforce Officer (L) and Kameale Terry, Chief Executive Officer (R)

The funding will help ChargerHelp!, the sole national EVSE-dedicated operations and maintenance service provider, further its commitment to reliable EV charging. This includes developing its EMPWR reliability software platform, expanding its Reliability as a Service (RaaS) offering, and growing its workforce development programs.

The need for reliable EV charging stations is vital for the industry’s expansion as EV adoption continues to grow. ChargerHelp! has experienced significant month-over-month revenue growth and increased customer traction due to its efforts to educate and service the market. The company’s differentiated and data-driven approach has made it possible to ensure dependable charger uptime, a critical factor for widespread vehicle electrification.

ChargerHelp!’s app-based dispatch and deployment system provides on-demand repairs and maintenance support from trained local workforces. This capability, provided at scale, is essential to support sharp growth in EV charging infrastructure and improve efficiency, turnaround time, and network availability while reducing costs across the networks. ChargerHelp! takes a technology-first approach to provide its clients with reliable, predictable, and hassle-free EV charging.

chargerhelp!

With the growth of EV deployment under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, many public EV chargers are falling short of the mark set by NEVI’s requirements. Yet ChargerHelp!’s EVSE technician support and data-driven insights have shown they can help their customers meet the required 97% uptime. These solutions have inspired past investors like Elemental Excelerator and current ones to support the company’s mission.

ChargerHelp!’s RaaS offering is a labor subscription service that provides peace of mind to charging station owners and operators who require fast and reliable O&M services at consistent, hassle-free prices. As the only national EVSE-dedicated operations and maintenance service provider, ChargerHelp! is committed to providing reliable, predictable, and hassle-free EV charging.

ChargerHelp! is focused on finding innovative solutions to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change. Its technology is solving the massive software and data problems that electrification faces. With the support of its investors, ChargerHelp! is working to reduce the impact of climate change in the communities it serves, particularly in under-resourced areas that are disproportionately affected by climate change.

by Tony O. Lawson

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3 mins read

Black Owned Electric Vehicle Charging Startup, SparkCharge Has Raised $30M

There are currently more electric vehicles on the road than ever before — with a record 6.6 million sold in 2021, double the previous year’s total.

However, a recent study found that concerns about the accessibility of nearby charging stations deter more people from buying electric vehicles.

This reluctance is frequently caused by “range anxiety,” the uneasy feeling that prospective buyers or current EV owners experience when they are concerned about having sufficient battery power to reach their destination.

SparkCharge is on a journey to change the way the world charges electric vehicles. Their charging-as-a-Service (CaaS) network, along with their mobile app Currently, enables EV owners to charge whenever and wherever they want.

“We are super excited to bring mobile charging and charging as a service (CaaS) to the next level.” shared Josh Aviv, SparkCharge CEO, and founder. “It’s exactly what is needed right now for America to catch up with electrification of transportation. Mobile charging is a necessity to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles. Being able to have your EV charged whenever and wherever you’d like takes away the time wasted at chargers and eliminates the worry of finding a charger that isn’t out of order. We’ve focused solely on making charging as easy as possible from building the portable charging hardware to mobilize charging, and the software to make it easy to access.”

sparkcharge

With the click of a button, SparkCharge subscribers in 121 U.S. cities can arrange a charging appointment.

If you don’t want to subscribe monthly, you can still pay for a single one-time charge that will be delivered within 90 minutes, according to the business.

In both cases, a technician delivers mobile Roadie charging stations to your car, which may be parked anywhere—at home, at work, or just about anywhere else.

SparkCharge raised approximately $30 million from investors including Mark Cuban, Tale Venture Partners, and rapper, Pusha-T. Aviv pitched SparkCharge on ABC’s “Shark Tank” in 2020, where Cuban and Lori Greiner invested $1 million for a 10% equity stake in the company.

Aviv told CNBC that the investments currently value SparkCharge at approximately $110 million. He added that the company has already established partnerships with major brands such as Kia Motors, Hertz, and Uber, and is on track to generate $10 million in revenue in 2022.

by Tony O. Lawson

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1 min read

JéGO is Building the Future of Self Driving Vehicles

JéGO Technologies is a designer and manufacturer of autonomous vehicles including self-driving pods that make it easy to connect consumers with services and products on the go.

JéGo is taking a step forward in combating climate change by assisting in making the benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) more accessible through the establishment of a nationwide network of EV charging stations targeted at traditionally underserved communities.

In this episode, Frederick Akpoghene, CEO/Founder of JéGO Technologies Inc. shares:

  • The difference between autonomous vehicles and electric vehicles.
  • The countries have made the most progress when it comes to adopting self-driving vehicles.
  • Challenges he has faced trying to educate the general public about autonomous vehicles
  • The future he envisions for self-driving cars.

-Tony O. Lawson

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