Powering the Future: A Conversation with Alastair Westgarth, COO of Xeal Energy

Xeal delivers reliable EV charging across multifamily, workplace, hospitality, and commercial portfolios. Built with their patented Helix Computing™ Platform, Xeal ensures consistent performance without relying on internet or cellular connectivity, eliminating common points of failure. Property owners benefit from zero IT burden, portfolio-wide scalability, and a platform designed to maximize uptime and resident satisfaction. Headquartered in New York City, Xeal helps future-proof properties for the accelerating shift to electric mobility.

EVinfo.net Interviews Alastair Westgarth, COO at Xeal

EVinfo.net had the great honor of interviewing Alastair Westgarth, COO at Xeal.

Bill Pierce: Alastair, welcome to Xeal. You joined as COO in September 2024. Let’s start with your journey, what led you to EV charging and ultimately to Xeal?

Alastair Westgarth: Thank you, I’m excited to be here. My career has been centered around mobility and how it evolves at scale. Over time, I became increasingly focused on transport electrification and the smart networking of those assets, not just from a vehicle standpoint, but from the infrastructure and ecosystem required to support it. One thing became very clear: EV adoption doesn’t succeed unless charging works consistently and seamlessly as perceived by the end user.

What drew me to Xeal was that the team had identified a core issue that the industry has been trying to work around for years, which is the dependency on constant connectivity. Instead of patching that problem, Xeal solved it at the architectural level. This new approach immediately stood out to me.

Bill Pierce: You’ve spent years working at the intersection of automotive, infrastructure, and scaling operations. How does that background shape your role as COO?

Alastair Westgarth: My focus has always been on execution at scale. It’s one thing to prove a technology works, it’s another to deploy it reliably across thousands of locations with consistency. As COO, my role is to take what Xeal has already built and operationalize it across a rapidly growing set of deployments and markets.

That means building systems that are repeatable, strengthening our deployment processes, and ensuring that every installation delivers the same level of performance. It also means working closely with partners, real estate operators, and customers to align our solution with real-world needs. Ultimately, success in this industry comes down to delivering a dependable experience every single day that exceeds expectations.

Bill Pierce: Reliability has become a defining theme for Xeal. From your perspective, why has that been such a challenge across the industry?

Alastair Westgarth: A lot of smart EV charging infrastructure was designed with the assumption that constant connectivity would always be there for both a charger and the user. In reality, that’s not the case, especially in environments like parking garages, multifamily properties, or older buildings.

In the non-Xeal paradigm, when connectivity drops, systems fail. That creates frustration for drivers and operational headaches for property owners. It also erodes trust in the broader EV ecosystem.

What’s different about Xeal is that reliability isn’t treated as a feature, it’s built into the foundation. By removing the dependency on live connectivity, you eliminate the biggest source of failure.

Bill Pierce: Let’s talk about Helix Computing™. How do you explain its impact from an operational standpoint?

Alastair Westgarth: Helix fundamentally changes how these systems operate in the field. Instead of relying on constant communication with the cloud, each charger functions independently and securely. From an operations perspective, that reduces points of failure, minimizes support issues, and simplifies deployment.

It also gives property owners confidence. They don’t need to worry about network infrastructure, ongoing maintenance, or whether the system will go down if connectivity is interrupted. It just works. When numerous network failures happened in 2025 Xeal was almost unaware of the outages as our network and the users of our network had absolutely zero issues charging with Xeal.

That level of reliability translates directly into lower operational costs and a better user experience.

Bill Pierce: What did it take to move from a strong technical foundation to scalable deployments?

Alastair Westgarth: Scaling requires discipline and alignment across multiple areas. It’s not just about the technology, it’s about how you deploy it, support it, and integrate it into existing environments.

We’ve been focused on refining our deployment playbooks, improving installation efficiency, and building strong relationships with contractors and partners. At the same time, we’re investing in internal systems that allow us to better monitor performance, further improve quality, and continuously improve across all operational areas.

The goal is to make deployment as seamless as the charging experience itself.

Bill Pierce: You’ve mentioned real estate partners a few times. Why is multifamily such a critical segment?

Alastair Westgarth: Because it’s where charging has the most impact on daily life. Ninety percent of charging happens at home. If you live in a multifamily property, you don’t have the convenience of a private garage and over 30% of residents in the US live in a multi-family setting. Charging at home if you live in a multi-family community, becomes significantly more complex.

At the same time, multifamily properties present unique challenges, limited infrastructure, budget constraints, and often unreliable connectivity. That’s where Xeal’s approach really shines.

We’re able to provide a solution that’s simple to install, easy to manage, and highly reliable. For property owners, that means fewer operational burdens. For residents, it means they can depend on charging where they live. Xeal always works in any environment with no caveats.

Bill Pierce: How are you thinking about expanding beyond multifamily?

Alastair Westgarth: Multifamily is our core focus, but the underlying challenges we solve exist across multiple segments. Workplace, hospitality, and retail environments all face similar issues when it comes to reliability and user experience.

As we expand, we’re being intentional about where we deploy and who we partner with. The goal isn’t just growth, it’s sustainable growth where we can maintain our standards and deliver consistent performance.

Bill Pierce: What’s the biggest misconception about EV charging today?

Alastair Westgarth: That more connectivity equals better performance. In reality, excessive dependence on connectivity can introduce more points of failure and make the network more fragile.

The industry is starting to recognize that resilience and reliability are just as important as intelligence. Systems need to be able to operate independently and adapt to real-world conditions.

That’s a shift in mindset, from centralized control to more distributed, self-reliant infrastructure.

Bill Pierce: What excites you most about where the industry is heading?

Alastair Westgarth: The convergence of mobility, real estate, and technology. EV charging is becoming a core part of how properties are designed and operated.

As adoption increases, expectations will rise. People will expect charging to be as seamless and reliable as any other utility. That creates an opportunity for companies that can deliver at that level.

I also think we’re moving toward a more integrated ecosystem, where charging is connected to broader energy management, sustainability initiatives, and user experience.

Bill Pierce: And the biggest challenge ahead?

Alastair Westgarth: Scaling without compromising quality. As the industry grows, there’s a risk of prioritizing speed over reliability. That can create long-term issues for both operators and users.

The other challenge is fragmentation. There are many players in the market, and interoperability will become increasingly important. The more we can simplify the experience for the end user, the better the industry will perform as a whole.

Bill Pierce: You joined at a pivotal moment for Xeal. What do you see as the next phase for the company?

Alastair Westgarth: This is a scaling phase. The foundation is strong, the technology is proven, and now it’s about expanding our footprint while both maintaining and improving our already high standards.

That includes growing our partnerships, entering new markets, and continuing to refine our operations. It’s about building a company that can deliver consistently at scale.

Bill Pierce: What do you want people to remember about Xeal?

Alastair Westgarth: That it works every single time. At the end of the day, that’s what matters most. Charging should be simple, reliable, and effortless.

If we can deliver that experience consistently, we’re not just supporting EV adoption, we’re helping build the infrastructure that makes it possible.

Bill Pierce: Alastair, thanks for your time. Exciting times ahead for Xeal!

Alastair Westgarth: Thank you, it’s great to be part of it.

Xeal Offers Smart EV Charging That Just Works

EV adoption is accelerating, and buildings are at the center of that shift. Xeal has re-engineered EV charging from the ground up to remove complexity and turn infrastructure into a seamless, scalable investment for property owners.

With their patented Helix Computing™ Platform, Xeal delivers premium, reliable charging that works anywhere for all EV makes and models, without dependence on WiFi and cellular, eliminating downtime and operational headaches.

Charge Anywhere, Every Time

Xeal’s chargers are designed to operate independently of internet and cellular connectivity, delivering full functionality across every EV on the market. Payments, access control, load management, and revenue tracking all run seamlessly without relying on networked infrastructure or third party systems.

End-to-End Deployment

From permitting through installation and go-live, Xeal manages the entire process with in-house expertise and a trusted national installer network. Onboarding and 24/7 support are built in, removing operational lift from property teams.

100% Uptime Guarantee

Xeal protocol eliminates common failure points tied to network dependency. Critical charging functions continue running without interruption, ensuring consistent performance and protecting the resident experience.

Contact the friendly and knowledgeable Xeal team today for more information.