# BMW i Ventures Invests in Y Combinator Alum HeyCharge to Amplify EV Charging Rollout at Residential Locations

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/01/bmw-i-ventures-invests-in-y-combinator-alum-heycharge-to-amplify-ev-charging-rollout-at-residential-locations/
- Published: 2022-01-13T11:24:25-05:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

BMW i Ventures announces a lead investment in HeyCharge. It’s the German start-up
democratizing access to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in various areas.
For example, apartment complexes, office buildings, and other infrastructure locations.
HeyCharge was in Y Combinator’s Summer 2021 batch of start-ups.

“The rapid growth of the electric vehicle market in coming years will necessitate
greater infrastructure build-out of [charging](https://greenlivingguy.com/2010/06/electric-vehicle-charging-stations-green-revolution/)
solutions around the globe,” said Kasper Sage, Managing Partner, BMW i Ventures.“
HeyCharge is the first company to enable EV-charging without internet connection,
which is a key enabler to cover untapped white-spots. With HeyCharge’s technology,
it becomes attractive to install chargers in [locations](https://greenlivingguy.com/2010/12/marines-become-first-military-organization-to-purchase-all-electric-commercial-truck/)
that before would have not been commercially viable.

Traditionally, EV chargers require an app or RFID card and a proper internet connection
to begin activation. Yet most underground garages currently do not have an internet
access point, or the ability to install such boxes. Chris Cardé, Founder and CEO,
HeyCharge, recognizes the problem with this traditional system. Furthermore, he 
sees the opportunity to solve it after bringing his first EV home to a Munich apartment
building. As the amount of EVs on the road increases – by 2040, virtually every 
new [car sold globally will be electric](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/01/venturi-electric-race-team-and-dicaprio-partnership/)–
there will be a large need for a scalable charging option that fits into consumers’
everyday lives.

With 56% of Germany and 46% of Europe [living](https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/ddn-20210521-1)
in apartment buildings, and 37% of [renters](https://getflex.com/blog/apartment-statistics/)
in the US, this is an obvious next step for the expansion of EV charging stations,
but the current reliance on internet connectivity is holding scalability back. Moreover,
that’s why HeyCharge’s mission is to help get a cheap, commercial, scalable solution
to this section of the population.

![Bmw i ventures invests in y combinator alum heycharge to amplify ev charging rollout
at residential locations](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/
2022/01/P90448976-highRes.jpg?resize=420%2C280&quality=52&ssl=1 "BMW i Ventures 
Invests in Y Combinator Alum HeyCharge to Amplify EV Charging Rollout at Residential
Locations - The Green Living Guy")

## BMW i Ventures: Advanced Technology

HeyCharge’s patent-pending technology, SecureCharge, eliminates the need for an 
on-site internet connection. Therefore, allowing the app and chargers to communicate
directly over bluetooth with the HeyCharge App or SDK. This maximizes availability
of the system while minimizing latency between the phone and the charger. Combining
it with Access Point, HeyCharge’s simple and effective hardware component experiences
a reduction. That’s of total costs, 80% in buildings.

“In addition to our full wallbox, the HeyCharge Access Point is a_ bring your own
wallbox_device that places the bare minimum for access control and consumption invoicing
on the building side, allowing for a fast and easy installation,” said Chris Cardé,
Founder and CEO, HeyCharge. “We are excited to use this investment to scale our 
product globally and bring low-cost charging options to consumers”

HeyCharge’s solution makes EV charging not just scalable but also more cost-effective
and accessible so that easy EV charging is made possible wherever you live or work,
said Chris Cardé, Founder and CEO, HeyCharge. “We are thrilled to be working with
[BMW](https://greenlivingguy.com/2016/04/bmw-group-launches-car-sharing-service-reachnow-in-seattle/)
i Ventures in this round and look forward to using this investment to scale our 
product globally and bring low-cost charging options to consumers.”

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green
Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For 
Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power
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