September 21st, 2021 — The next decade of electric vehicle charging is going to look nothing like the last.
Vertically-integrated providers such as Tesla and ChargePoint have largely led the buildout of the 43,000 level 2 and 3 EV chargers installed in the US to date. But as hundreds of new battery-electric car models hit the streets in the next three years alone and standards like the Open Charge Point Protocol continue to proliferate, open-network charging is poised to lead the growth of charging stations into the millions.
Open-network charging amplifies the role of utilities, charge point operators, site hosts, and installers as key players in the future of transportation. The seamless integration and coordination between these stakeholders is of critical importance, but has historically been a sticking point that has hindered the deployment of EVs and led to a growing gap between physical and digital charging networks.
AmpUp’s software platform enables site hosts, fleet managers, and utilities to efficiently manage and customize charging stations while also enhancing the charging experience for drivers. With dynamic features, hundreds of hardware integrations, and a suite of optimization tools, AmpUp fills a critical, timely gap in the EV charging ecosystem.
The EV charging landscape is rapidly expanding—and with this expansion comes growing pains.
With 20M EVs expected to hit the road in the U.S. by 2030, the Brattle Group estimates that 1.25M public charging outlets will be needed to meet growing demand, representing $30-$50B in new investment.
The expansion of open-network charging has exponentially expanded consumer choice and control while making it easier than ever for site hosts, fleets, and utilities to offer customized charging solutions. Yet unlike vertically-integrated solutions, these providers must work together to solve drivers’ needs and manage charging infrastructure, a task that has often been overlooked.
There is a critical and unsolved need for software tools that unite a fragmented hardware landscape.
Charging station hardware has become increasingly commoditized. Today, hundreds of different models provide similar functionalities, but are not built to serve customers beyond their basic refueling purpose.
For site hosts—including workplaces, campuses, retail, and multi-family housing—it remains difficult to optimize charging hardware on the backend, make complex decisions around revenue and pricing, address maintenance issues, and access new drivers.
For drivers, the fragmented landscape of open-network charging often leads to a subpar user experience, with major challenges in payment, UI, and station uptime.
AmpUp provides the critical link between physical and digital charging networks.
AmpUp provides a single platform for site hosts, fleet managers, and drivers to interact with charging stations, joining disparate sites and hardware providers for a stress-free charging experience.
AmpUp’s mobile app provides seamless and integrated charging for drivers, enabling them to access thousands of stations and easily schedule and pay on a single platform.
The platform enables businesses and property owners to efficiently manage multiple charge stations and locations in one platform as well as customize their networks with pricing, reservation, and smart scheduling features.
By partnering with leading automotive OEMs, installers, site hosts, utilities, and hardware providers—including EVBox, Enel X, ABB, Siemens, JLL, CBRE, National Grid, and Green Mountain Power—AmpUp has built a robust charging ecosystem and cemented a leading position among open-network solutions.
Powerhouse Ventures invested in AmpUp’s seed round alongside Goodyear, TechNexus, Foothill Ventures, and more. We’re proud to work with Co-Founder & CEO Thomas Sun, Co-Founder & CSO Timotej Gavrilovic, and the entire AmpUp team to drive the next decade of EV charging.
Special thanks to Marie Thompson, Ry Storey-Fisher, and Shaandiin Cedar.
To read more about Powerhouse Ventures’ other publicly-announced investments, visit our Insights page.