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Skycharger, an ambitious and innovative branded EV charging network, has been making waves in the industry since its inception in 2013. Under the strategic direction of Andy Karetsky, CEO of Skycharger, and backed by renewable energy project and venture investor Skyview Ventures, the company has seen what can be achieved with the right technology and market insight.
In 2020, the Skyview board thought it was the right time to invest heavily in expanding Skycharger’s footprint. Partnering with New York installers, they put in 300 stations in less than 12 months under the Skycharger brand. They did not want to go through the cost, hassle, and delay of developing their own charging network software and mobile app or standing up their own driver support call center. They found a reliable network technology and services platform in EV Connect.
Accelerated Deployment
The collaboration with EV Connect marked a pivotal point in Skycharger’s journey. With EV Connect’s Branded Network, Skycharger was able to stand up a fully-functional charging network under the Skycharger brand in weeks. Much more than white label charging management software, the EV Connect Branded Network includes highly-rated native mobile apps in the iOS and Google Play stores, charger management software, and a 24/7 branded driver support call center. From project kickoff to the first vehicles charging at Skycharger stations took just 3 months. This speed is a testament to the efficiency and reliability of EV Connect’s technology, which Karetsky highlights as a critical factor in their success. “Our rapid deployment with EV Connect catapulted us forward. In three months, we went from zero to a fully-functioning network,” he shares.
Impressive Growth Metrics
The partnership’s success is not just in swift deployment but also in tangible growth metrics that any charging business would envy. Since launching in 2021, the Skycharger Network has seen:
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130% annual revenue growth
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87% annual unique driver growth
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77% annual kWh growth
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64% annual session growth
These are excellent growth metrics for any charging business. By scaling revenue faster than session and kWh growth, which is a cost, Skycharger is building an efficient charging business that sets them up nicely for the next phase of growth.
Cost-Effective and Time-Efficient Scaling
The cost and time savings realized through the partnership with EV Connect have been substantial. By leveraging EV Connect’s full-service offerings—from driver support to billing and payments—Skycharger has been able to focus on strategic expansion without the cost and hassle of managing these operations. “In the past decade, we have tried 6 different software solutions at our stations,” Karetsky notes. “EV Connect’s solution worked on day one and every day since then. It’s one thing I don’t have to worry about.”
A Bright and Powerful Future
Skycharger’s aggressive growth plans involve expanding their recently-acquired fast-charging network in California and building out a behind-the-fence fleet charging solution. They want to expand their network to 2,000 stations within the next two years. “Our vision is to build a leading retail and fleet charging business under the unified Skycharger brand,” says Karetsky, “and EV Connect is helping us get there.”
To learn more about Skycharger’s electrification story, listen to our new Charging Conversations Podcast!
