SparkCharge announced a new round of funding on Monday that will help enable the continued expansion of the company’s unique on-demand charging services. Essentially, the company uses mobile hardware to help fill gaps in infrastructure or help electric vehicle owners with unforeseen charging needs.
Through the Now app, SparkCharge has allowed EV driver to request additional power supply while they’re parked — in Dallas, San Francisco, LA or San Jose.
Now, they are expanding their “charge as a service” model to more surrounding communities: Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Irvine, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Oakland, Fremont, Berkeley, Union City, Albany, Orange and Hayward.
With an additional $7 million announced Monday from Cleveland Avenue Ventures, SparkCharge brings its total Series A funding with a diverse group of investors to $30 million, which will allowing the company to continue to scale.
SparkCharge charges on-demand, with the Now app
Currently, it offers three levels of service, from a base fee of $4.99 per month and $0.69/kwh up to $29.99 a month and $0.51/kwh. Each level includes unlimited deliveries up to 100 miles.
In 2019, the early-stage startup demonstrated that the idea of ordering a pizza combined with the popularity of a fuel “jerry can” could be technology that helps connect the enthusiasm of EV, with an incomplete charging infrastructure. With a charging pack the size of a large carry-on suitcase weighing less than 20 lb, SparkCharge’s original hardware can provide a one-mile-per-minute return range.
In 2020, the company moved to pilot program in San Francisco and Los Angelesand partnerships with towing companies show that EV drivers who find themselves lacking range can avoid a costly tow.
SparkCharge charges on-demand, with the Now app
That evolved into the widespread implementation of higher capacity mobile charging hardware known as Roadie CCS and eventually a mobile app called Present.
SparkCharge says it already offers more than 250,000 miles of range, and it sees the service as a valuable one-stop-shop while charging infrastructure is built — amid supply shortages — to support sales. quick sales and interest in electric vehicles.
