SINGAPORE – Charge+ is a Singapore-based startup that aims to provide convenient and affordable electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions for drivers in the city-state and beyond. The company has recently secured a series A funding round from undisclosed investors to accelerate its expansion plans in Southeast Asia.
The company was founded in 2019 with a vision to make EV charging accessible to everyone, especially those living in high-density urban areas. It has developed a proprietary charging technology that can be installed in existing carparks without requiring major electrical upgrades. This reduces the installation cost and time, as well as the space required for each charging point.
Charge+ has also partnered with the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) to supply about 4,000 EV charging points in the carparks of public housing estates, as part of the government’s initiative to deploy 60,000 charging points across the country by 2030. The company claims that its charging points will cover more than 80% of the residential population in Singapore once fully deployed.
Besides Singapore, Charge+ also has ambitions to expand its network to other Southeast Asian countries, where the EV market is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years. The company has already established a presence in Malaysia and Indonesia, and plans to enter Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines soon.
According to Charge+’s CEO Goh Chee Kiong, the company’s competitive advantage lies in its ability to offer a seamless and integrated charging experience for EV drivers, as well as a profitable and scalable business model for its partners. He said that the company’s charging points are connected to a cloud-based platform that allows users to locate, book, and pay for their charging sessions via a mobile app. The platform also enables Charge+ to monitor and manage its network remotely, as well as to collect and analyze data on user behavior and preferences.
Goh added that Charge+ is not only a charging service provider, but also a platform enabler that can work with various stakeholders in the EV ecosystem, such as car manufacturers, property developers, fleet operators, and energy retailers. He said that the company’s goal is to create a win-win situation for all parties involved, by sharing the revenue generated from the charging transactions, as well as the value-added services and insights derived from the platform.
With its series A funding, Charge+ plans to invest in further developing its technology, expanding its team, and scaling up its operations in Singapore and Southeast Asia. The company also hopes to raise more awareness and adoption of EVs among consumers and businesses in the region, by offering them a convenient and affordable alternative to conventional fuel vehicles.
Charge+ is one of the leading players in the EV charging space in Southeast Asia, and it is poised to capture a significant share of the growing market. The company believes that EVs are not only a greener and smarter choice for transportation but also a catalyst for social and economic transformation. (ZI)
Photo: Charge+