Dive Brief:
- Public electric vehicle charging operator ChargePoint has partnered with Optimus Energy Solutions to expand the company’s public charging network throughout the Southeast U.S., the company announced in a press release.
- The new chargers, with 200 additional charging ports, will primarily be installed in high-demand markets, with many of the sites planned for convenient locations near restaurants and busy shopping centers where public charger utilization is greater, per the release.
- “Our partnership with ChargePoint has been instrumental in establishing Optimus as a leader in EV charging infrastructure,” said Ben Pauluhn, president, Optimus Energy Solutions, in a statement. “Leveraging ChargePoint’s technology and support allows us to meet the increasing demand for fast, reliable charging solutions.”
Dive Insight:
As part of the partnership between the two companies, ChargePoint will serve as the exclusive provider of charging hardware, software and services to support expansion of Optimus Energy Solutions’ public EV charging network. Florida-based Optimus will act as owner-operator of the sites, per the release.
Optimus was founded in 2018 and helps commercial, industrial, multi-family and municipal customers in Florida and the Southeastern U.S. plan, build and maintain reliable clean-energy infrastructure, including solar, per the company’s website.
Although EV sales have slowed since the expiration of the federal tax credit last September, ChargePoint and Optimus are among the companies aiming to close critical charging gaps in order to support more long-term EV demand across key U.S. markets. The lack of convenient EV charging infrastructure is viewed as one of the barriers to more widespread EV adoption in the U.S.
In April, Circle K announced plans to install 350 EV charging sites as part of its partnership with Ionna, a joint venture founded by eight major automakers to build out public charging infrastructure. Ionna has also partnered with Casey’s General Stores, Wawa and Sheetz to install its Rechargeries at select sites. The EV charging company is aiming to build 30,000 fast-charging sites in the U.S. by 2030.
In June, General Motors launched its new “Energy Pass” digital electric vehicle charging platform, allowing its EV customers to pay for charging sessions at public chargers operated by different companies, including Tesla Superchargers, using a single, more intuitive interface. GM plans to add the ChargePoint and EVgo networks to its Energy Pass platform in the near future.
“Expanding access to reliable EV charging infrastructure is critical to accelerating the transition to electric mobility,” said ChargePoint CEO Rick Wilmer in a statement. “Together, we are enabling a more seamless charging experience for drivers across the eastern U.S.”
Current EV drivers are more satisfied with their vehicles than ever before, according to JD Power’s 2026 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study, released in February. The availability of public EV charging was the most improved factor influencing customer satisfaction, the study found.
