ChargeWheel sparks mobile EV charging in San Francisco

ChargeWheel has secured $1 million in funding to launch a mobile electric vehicle (EV) charging network in the San Francisco Bay Area. The network will be based on ChargeWheel’s mobile Energy Trailers, which don’t require a connection to the grid, and can therefore operate in any car park. The company says they offer a combined solar-powered generation and energy storage solution, and plans to deploy 100 in the Bay Area by the end of 2019. The units can simultaneously charge four EVs or up to 400 electric
April 8, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

ChargeWheel has secured $1 million in funding to launch a mobile electric vehicle (EV) charging network in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The network will be based on ChargeWheel’s mobile Energy Trailers, which don’t require a connection to the grid, and can therefore operate in any car park.

The company says they offer a combined solar-powered generation and energy storage solution, and plans to deploy 100 in the Bay Area by the end of 2019. The units can simultaneously charge four EVs or up to 400 electric bikes or e-scooters at DC fast-charging (DCFC) speeds.

Huzaifa Muhammad, CEO and founder of ChargeWheel, says micromobility charging networks and infrastructure do not exist where micromobility devices are primarily used.

“Many of the largest fleet operators are relying on warehouses far away from city centres, stocked with diesel generators to charge their vehicles en masse,” he continues. “Similarly, there is a lack of DC fast chargers in large city centres for electric car drivers, mainly due to lengthy permitting and infrastructure installation issues.”

ChargeWheel’s Energy Trailers are equipped with solar panels, 550KWh of energy storage capacity. The company will introduce a $99 yearly unlimited charging subscription plan, allowing drivers to charge their vehicles at a fixed cost from any location.

The company says EV fleet operators will also benefit because they can lease the trailers on yearly contracts.

For a monthly subscription fee, micromobility fleet operators which use independent contractors for charging their fleets can direct contractors to the nearest ChargeWheel energy trailer.

Funding came from venture capital firm Ride Side Capital and an additional funding round is expected to close later this year.

Urban Traffic Control

Related Content

  • Xerox takes youthful view of future transport
    August 23, 2016
    Xerox’s David Cummins talks to Colin Sowman about the lessons for city authorities from its survey of younger peoples’ attitude to transport. There can be no better way to get a handle on the future of transport demand than to ask the younger generation about how they view and consume today’s transport. Sociologists have called this group Generation Z – those born between 1995 and 2007 – which will make up 40% of all US consumers by 2020.
    Read More
  • San Francisco launches congestion management strategy
    December 11, 2014
    San Francisco mayor Edwin M. Lee has launched the city’s congestion management strategy to improve traffic flow and safety, especially in the South of Market neighbourhood where construction and growth remain the highest in the City. The strategy outlines additional efforts the city could undertake, beyond traditional approaches such as the Interdepartmental Staff Committee on Traffic and Transportation (ISCOTT). These additional efforts include smarter traffic enforcement, better construction permitt
    Read More
  • New York to pump $51.5bn into transit
    September 25, 2019
    New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has proposed investing $51.5 billion in the city’s subways, buses and railroads over the next five years. Janno Lieber, MTA chief development officer, says: “The proposed capital programme will be truly transformational – more trains, more buses, more service, more accessibility and more reliability.” The 2020-2024 Capital Plan would put $40bn into the city’s subways and buses and $6.1bn for 1,900 new subway cars to help mitigate delays. MTA also wa
    Read More
  • Bharat installs solar EV chargers along highway in Delhi
    March 11, 2019
    Bharat Heavy Electricals is setting up a network of solar-based electric vehicle chargers (SEVC) on the Delhi-Chandigarh Highway in India to help alleviate range anxiety for drivers. The company says the SEVC chargers are being set-up over the 350km stretch between Delhi and Chandigarh to bolster confidence for using EVs for inter-city travel. Each SEVC station will be equipped with a rooftop solar power plant to supply green energy and EV chargers, the company adds. As part of the project, Bhar
    Read More

Highlighted Content