Improving the economics of electric vehicles and its supportive infrastructure will speed the transition away from fossil fuel-powered vehicles. Berlin-based Cariqa has raised the early funding round to launch an EV charging marketplace that will directly link drivers to charging station operators. Founder Issam Tidjani said the company’s goal is to ensure charge point operators “maximize their utilization rates and revenues while ensuring drivers pay a fair and transparent price.”
Cariqa raised $1.1 million in a pre-seed funding round. Its backers include Anthemis, which invested via its $50 million Female Innovator Lab fund for early-stage female founders, as well as California-based VC Plug and Play, Golden Egg Check, Vento Ventures, Techstars and Singapore’s Hatcher+.
Price transparency
Many EV charging stations are underutilized because they’re located in low traffic zones or their payment systems are too complicated. To attract enough customers, charging point operators often have to offer discounts and work with intermediaries, cutting into their profits.
Meanwhile, “EV drivers are demanding more price transparency and charging optionality,” observed Jeremy Brown of Anthemis.
Cariqa’s app, which launched this month, alerts drivers of charge points and how much it costs to charge. The app lists 420,000 charging stations in 30 European countries.
