EV charging platform aggregator Bonnet secures $1.26 million

London-based EV charging point aggregator Bonnet has secured $1.26 million in new funding. In addition to availability reports, the startup also offers cost-effective vehicle charging payment plans that can be rolled over from month to month. The new funding is expected to further grow the team as well as expand partnerships with network operators.

Launched in October of 2019, founders Patrick Reich and Eliot Makabu sought to eliminate one of the biggest issues surrounding a complete and total conversion to electric vehicles: “What if I run out of power?” By bringing all available options and locations together under one roof, or app as it were, Bonnet provides users with real-time data of what’s available and where.

But finding a charging station is only half of the Bonnet story. The UK currently has over 40 different charging networks, each with its own unique payment systems. Taking a queue perhaps from Curve (?), Bonnet provides users with one simple payment plan that works with each and every one of these providers.

The service has aggregated over 1,400 public charging points across the UK and is on track to incorporate at least 70% of all charge points by the end of this year.

Going a step further, Bonnet has also introduced semi-private and private charging points to the product lineup, providing domestic suppliers with greater visibility, and EV drivers even more options.

“In the past six months alone, we’ve partnered with the likes of ESB, Shell Recharge, EVBox, Alfa Power, Franklin Energy, Plug-N-Go, Allego, Fastened and char.gy to provide cheaper and simpler public charging for customers,” commented co-founder and CEO Patrick Reich. “Our goal is to take the anxiety out of charging electric vehicles and believe the process should be far more democratic and accessible – particularly for drivers in urban areas who need on-demand, affordable public chargepoint access.”

Although not exactly in the same market geographically, it is entirely possible to see Bonnet go head to head with Helsinki-based eMabler, as they are offering identical services, with the latter indicating expansion plans further afield. It's only a matter of time until the UK shows up on this roadmap.

Bonnet’s new funding was provided via a $1.165 million equity investment from Ascension Ventures with investors from Imperial College London and APX, and a $96,000 grant from Innovate UK and OZEV.