Globally, there is a gradual shift to clean energy and the automobile industry has also been caught up in this energy shift movement. Giant automobile companies are now producing cars that solely rely on electricity or solar.
According to a report by the Center for American Progress, more than 30% of the global passenger vehicle fleet is expected to be electric by 2040. Also, a report by McKinsey & Company notes that the electronic vehicle (EV) market in the US is expected to grow but at a slower rate compared to China and Europe.
The switch to electronic vehicles is still at the nascent stage as most economies do not have the capacity to power electronic vehicles. Many cities in developing countries do not have a stable power supply, and in countries that have stable energy, the cost of electricity is expensive, which makes EV less preferable.
The situation is not only dire in developing countries. An article by the Wall Street Journal said mass adoption of electronic vehicles has not materialized due to the lack of charging infrastructures. The article cited a survey of 3,500 in which half of the respondents reported having problems with public charging.
Thanks to mobile charging battery company SparkCharge, charging EVs could be less problematic. The company, in partnership with Allstate Roadside, is venturing into vehicle services by developing a mobile vehicle charger.
The mobile vehicle charger is the world’s first on-demand mobile electronic charging network, according to a press statement.
Electronic vehicle owners can now access this new network via SparkCharge’s BoostEV smartphone app and have a charge delivered directly to their vehicle with a push of a button.
SparkCharge, founded in 2017, is launching in 12 cities including New York, Chicago, San Diego, Dallas, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. It plans to open up in a different city every month after February and roll out the service in 25 cities by the end of 2021.
“We’re building a completely new type of EV charging infrastructure,” shared SparkCharge CEO, Josh Aviv, in a press release. “It’s mobile, on-demand and for the first time truly gives EV owners freedom and control to charge their car anytime, anywhere by ordering the service through the Boost EV app. Just like food delivery, EV owners can now have range delivered to them on the spot. When people think about EV charging, we know BoostEV will be top of mind for them.”
The company said Allstate Roadside, a roadside assistance service provider, and HONK Technologies, the digital platform connecting drivers and towing professionals, and the other partners will bring the portable Roadie charging system to charge vehicles that need a charge.
“Our relationship with SparkCharge supports our commitment to providing innovative solutions and a circle of protection for customers,” said Joan Trach, Allstate Roadside Chief Operating Officer in the statement.
Spiffy, a car-care service company, is joining BoostEV to offer charging as a service alongside mobile car wash, disinfection, tire changing, among other services, according to SparkCharge’s statement.
“Our goal is to basically be the fastest-growing EV charging network in the United States because we can be anywhere anytime,” SparkCharge founder Aviv told Insider. “With us it’s like take it out of the box, plug it into a car, and you’re charging the car.
According to Techcrunch, the company plans to launch 500,000 electric charging stations in four years.
