Chargenet Stations is Rapidly Expanding the EV Charging Network With Solar
Scrappy startup Chargenet Stations, located in San Diego, with an office in Los Angeles, California, is leading the way into new EV charging resources for drivers, beginning in their home state of California. The company is currently focusing on creating EV charging locations at quick service restaurants (QSRs). The idea is building upon the great value EV chargers will bring to any business with a physical location. Restaurants are a great choice for EV chargers, since the chargers compliment the business model. EV drivers can stop for a meal, while recharging their EVs. QSR franchisees need no financial investment to partner with ChargeNet Stations. In that sense, it’s a triple win (for EV driving customers, the restaurant and the planet).
Chargenet Stations is using modular solutions to scale rapidly. There are over 31,000 fast food restaurants in California alone. Only 4% of the EV charging infrastructure drivers will need by 2040 currently exists. The Chargenet Stations team has direct domain experience with transforming QSR parking lots from cost centers to profit centers.
On the Chargenet Stations website, the company states that they are building the most comprehensive EV charging network in the United States – offering sponsored charging to drivers at the places they like to visit.
ChargeNet’s Stations software platform makes it seamless for quick serve restaurants to offer customers a superior EV charge up experience while enjoying a meal. ChargeNet’s ChargeOpt(TM) hardware-agnostic SaaS platform optimizes EV chargers and renewable energy from solar power to turn parking lots into profit centers.
The Chargenet Stations leadership team
Tosh Dutt: CEO
Michael Zimmerman: CFO
Venus Jenkins: COO
Rebecca Wolkoff: CTO
Benton Moore: Chief Legal Officer
A good example of the company’s accomplishments is the project underway at a Taco Bell in South San Francisco. Tritium is supplying the six RTM direct current (DC) fast chargers, and a solar array powers the chargers to provide clean, renewable energy not dependent on the power grid.
Diversified Restaurant Group is working with Chargenet Stations and Tritium on the project. Diversified Restaurant Group operates nearly 250 Taco Bell and Arby’s restaurants in five states. Funding is coming from the California Energy Commission’s California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP) and the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP).
The 75 kilowatt Tritium RTM direct current (DC) fast chargers provide up to a 100-mile charge in 15 minutes, or less, for about $10. The new chargers will accept payment through ChargeNet’s mobile app and a credit card reader on the charger. ChargeNet Stations is planning to integrate food ordering and payment into the payment process.
The project broke ground at the beginning of October and is expected to be completed by the end of March. Diversified Restaurant Group paid no upfront costs and will benefit from a portion of the proceeds from the chargers as well as any increase in business the chargers may attract.
“We’re always looking for opportunities to do things that haven’t been done before and especially those that create a ‘win-win’ for our customers, the community and our business,” said S.G. Ellison, President of Diversified Restaurant Group, in a statement.
“Our goal is to replace the refueling experience that Americans know with a charging experience that is fast, convenient, and inviting,” added Tosh Dutt, CEO of ChargeNet. “Our first installation is just the beginning of realizing that goal, and will be the first of many as we look to expand charging opportunities throughout the Bay Area and other parts of the country in the hopes of increasing adoption of EVs, especially in lower-income areas.”
Indeed, funding from the various California agencies is helping to power that goal by not only encouraging EV adoption but by supporting communities in high fire-threat areas, communities that have experienced two or more utility Public Safety Power Shut-offs and low-income and medically vulnerable customers.
Tritium’s Mike Calise expects the idea of combining fast food and fast charging will quickly take off and whet consumers’ appetites for both EVs and tasty calories, predicting, “If you can put these DC fast chargers in local proximity neighborhoods, like this is, then people feel OK, it’s safe to dip my toe in the water, not only that, I’m gonna buy an EV and I’m gonna get a charge really quickly and oh, by the way, I’m gonna get some really good Taco Bell food.”
For more information visit: https://chargenetstations.com
