This month’s issue is all about electric fleets and alternative fuels, and before fleets switch to electric vehicles, it’s important managers and owners decide how to charge them. The charging infrastructure process can be costly, overwhelming, and time consuming. Thankfully, one company, SparkCharge, is helping fleets charge their vehicles via grid-free charging. Sharing his insight is Joshua Aviv, founder and CEO of SparkCharge.
MWS: WE VERY BRIEFLY COVERED SPARKCHARGE A FEW YEARS AGO. DO YOU MIND OFFERING AN OVERVIEW OF THE COMPANY FOR OUR NEW READERS?
AVIV: SparkCharge has created the world’s largest mobile electric vehicle charging network. This network is now a reality due to three key factors: hardware, software, and brilliant customers. The Roadie Charging System is a portable, powerful, modular charging solution that makes DC fast charging possible anywhere regardless of infrastructure. The app and EV power delivery service SparkCharge Fleet & SparkCharge Out of Charge allows businesses to have their EVs charged wherever and whenever they want.
MWS: SPARKCHARGE IS KNOWN FOR ITS “GRID-FREE” CHARGING. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
AVIV: SparkCharge’s portable, grid-free charging solutions are battery-operated, so they’re always available to charge, regardless of power outages. SparkCharge also implements a triple redundancy charging operation to keep fleets powered up even during a natural disaster when the grid goes down.
MWS: WHY SHOULD EXISTING EV FLEETS KEEP SPARKCHARGE ON THEIR RADAR?
AVIV: Fleets with electric vehicles or fleet managers looking to electrify their fleet should keep SparkCharge on their radar because of several reasons.
No CapEx: SparkCharge’s mobile CaaS doesn’t require businesses to install fixed infrastructure to charge EV fleets, removing the burden of high capital investment with specialized programs combining site design, energy deployment, software, and service to make EV fleet operations seamless.
Speed to Market: The portable, turnkey EV charging solution can be up and running in as few as 14 days in some markets, compared to the years it takes to construct and install fixed charging units.
Flexible and Scalable Infrastructure: The SparkCharge network is built to scale to meet a company’s growing EV charging needs. It’s also designed to service EVs of all sizes and varieties and gives businesses freedom of where to place vehicle assets and allows fleets to charge vehicles in multiple locations at the same time.
99.9% Uptime: SparkCharge’s portable, grid-free charging solutions are battery-operated, so they’re always available to charge, regardless of power outages. SparkCharge also implements a triple redundancy charging operation to keep fleets powered up even during a natural disaster when the grid goes down.
Quicker ROI: By eliminating large upfront installation costs and offering one custom monthly payment, businesses looking to electrify their fleets will save on gas and maintenance costs, as well as see a faster return on their investment.
MWS: WHERE IS SPARKCHARGE AVAILABLE? DO SERVICES VARY DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION?
AVIV: SparkCharge’s mobile CaaS for fleets is currently available in California in the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose, as well as in Dallas and Austin, Texas, and Boston, Massachusetts. It will launch in additional cities this year.
MWS: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO FLEETS THAT ARE CONSIDERING SWITCHING TO EVS BUT ARE NOT YET SOLD ON THE IDEA BECAUSE OF CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE? HOW CAN SPARKCHARGE HELP?
AVIV: Electrifying a fleet doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming—our turnkey EV fast charging solutions allow businesses to make the switch from gas-powered vehicles to battery-electric, enabling them to be in compliance with green initiatives while lowering overall operations and maintenance costs. Mobile Charging as a service is a great option for decentralized and centralized fleets that might need to charge in multiple locations. It’s also beneficial if a fleet is waiting on a long lead time for fixed chargers, if they don’t plan to be at their current location for a long period of time, or if they don’t own the lots where their vehicles are parked.
MWS: DOES SPARKCHARGE OFFER ANY OTHER EV PRODUCTS THAT COULD HELP FLEETS WITH RANGE ANXIETY?
AVIV: Yes, SparkCharge offers the Roadie Portable, a modular charging unit that’s only available for registered businesses to purchase. Some fleets like to use it as an emergency charge source since it’s not attached to the grid when charging. It can also be used to support charging needs to keep up with operational demands.
MWS: IS THERE SOMETHING NEW OR EXCITING COMING FROM SPARKCHARGE THAT WE CAN EXPECT WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR?
AVIV: SparkCharge is going to be scaling production in the United States and possible product updates later this year in addition to adding more cities in 2023.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Joshua Aviv is a certified data scientist and the founder and CEO of SparkCharge. His experience in the cleantech and automotive OEM industry spans 10 years, and he is a dynamic figure in the cleantech community. Aviv has raised $50 million to advance EV charging infrastructure and clean initiatives across the country. Find out more about SparkCharge and its mobile EV charging products and services, visit www.sparkcharge.io or email sales@sparkcharge.io.
