Battery-buffered EV fast charging for fuel retailers and convenience stores
- Investment StrategyClimate Transition, Private Equity
- ThemeClean Energy & Transportation
- LocationSeattle, Washington
- Date of Initial Investment2023
- Bridges ExecutivesMike D’Aurizio
Thesis
Rapid EV adoption depends on accessible, reliable, and affordable fast charging. But, fast chargers can take years to deploy due to utility interconnection delays, constraining network expansion. Once operational, many sites experience uptime and reliability challenges stemming from fragmented, multi-vendor hardware and software stacks. At the same time, high demand charges can increase effective charging costs for drivers, undermining affordability.
Investment
Electric Era sells battery-buffered EV fast chargers to fuel retailers and convenience stores. Its integrated battery system shortens deployment times and avoids costly grid upgrades, while also lowering the total cost of ownership through demand charge savings. The company’s core software stack – spanning energy management, charger and battery management, fault detection, and payments and screen control – drives industry-leading session reliability and uptime. Electric Era is now adding retail extension offerings like membership verification, loyalty program integration, and POS capabilities, to help retailers convert charging visits into repeat, high-value in-store transactions.
Outcomes
Since inception, Electric Era has delivered multiple GWh of energy across tens of thousands of charging sessions to drivers.