#60 its electric
Curbside EV charging revolution in cities
Read time: 5 minutes
Hi, I’m Javi Gascón.
This is Climate Tech Distillery, a newsletter where I talk about one specific climate tech company every week.
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Today we’ll distill a company that’s making electric vehicle charging easy, convenient, cost-free and universally accessible: it’s electric 🇺🇸
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What Problem Does it’s electric Tackle❓
The company tackles the problem of inadequate public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, particularly in urban areas. These are the main parts of the problem:
1. Lack of Public Charging Stations: Currently, the U.S. has 207,000 public charging ports, but experts estimate a need for over 1.2 million fast-charging ports by 2030 to support moderate EV adoption.
2. Inequitable Distribution: EV charging locations are limited. Many low income communities are miles away from public EV charging.
3. High Cost and Complexity of Installation: Traditional EV charging station installation is time-intensive, requiring extensive studies, engineering, permitting, and disruptive street work. This process can take 12 to 18 months to complete.
4. Limited Access for Urban Drivers: Millions of drivers, especially those in low-income communities, lack access to home charging stations. 25% of drivers in the U.S. do not have access to an off-street parking space.
5. Design: Standard EV charging equipment has a large footprint driven by power conversions and cord management.
All of these issues obstruct the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
Product / Service 📦
It’s electric has created a network of curbside EV charging specifically built for cities. It's electric partners with city property owners to unlock access to untapped electricity supply while they earn passive income.
Installation and Cost: These chargers are installed at no cost to property owners or cities by utilizing existing electrical capacity "behind-the-meter" from adjacent buildings, eliminating the need for utility permitting and connections.
Accessibility and Convenience: The chargers are specifically built for city dwellers who park their cars on the street and lack access to home charging options.
Revenue Sharing: Property owners receive passive income from the revenue generated by the charging stations on their premises. Starting at $1,000 per charger/year.
Safety and Innovation: Itselectric offers UL-certified detachable cable EV chargers, ensuring safety and convenience. The chargers are designed to be low-profile and user-friendly, with drivers receiving their own cords for authentication and payment.
Market 🌐
40 million drivers can't transition to electric vehicles without affordable
and convenient EV charging infrastructure. The U.S. alone is expected to need 1.2 million EV charging ports by 2030. Then you have to add a several more million for the rest of the world.
The global EV charging station market, which includes curbside charging, was valued at $44.52 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $480.57 billion by 2034. Specifically for AC charging stations, which are commonly used for curbside charging, the market is expected to surpass $92 billion by 2032.
Other Key Players
ChargeHub 🇺🇸: Provides free electric vehicle charging stations funded by advertising, targeting high-traffic areas like shopping centers and parking garages.
Ubitricity 🇩🇪: Provides public electric vehicle charging solutions, specializing in charging infrastructure integrated into existing street furniture.
Char.gy 🇬🇧: A company focused on providing electric vehicle charging solutions, particularly on-street and lamppost-integrated charging.
Founding Story 🦄
Itselectric was founded in April 2021 by Tiya Gordon and Nathan King, who are also life partners. Tiya Gordon, with a background in design and technology, had extensive experience in designing public interfaces, including work on the 9/11 Memorial Museum and various public spaces in New York City.
Nathan King, a LEED-certified architect with 20 years of experience in sustainable urban construction, was leading a team designing the NYC Public Health Laboratory during the COVID-19 pandemic. This period sparked their conversation about addressing climate change through innovative solutions.
The idea for Itselectric emerged from their personal challenge of charging their electric vehicle in a dense New York City neighborhood. They realized that every building with an electric meter and a curb could power a car, allowing for the deployment of curbside EV chargers without significant infrastructure upgrades.
This insight led them to develop a model where they partner with building owners to install Level-2 EV chargers, enabling cities to meet their carbon reduction targets without additional costs.
They’ve raised $11.8 million to date.
Top Impact Stats 📈
1. With 100,000 chargers installed in the next 2 years, itselectric would eliminate 275 million tons of CO2 emissions.
2. A typical New York homeowner could earn about $3,500 annually by hosting a charger.
3. It’s electric aims to provide 400,000 drivers with access to convenient, low-cost charging by 2027.
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