ZipCharge has released the first image of its next “game-changing product”, ahead of a global release on Earth Day, 22 April 2022.

ZipCharge says its next solution will reshape public EV charging for every community while providing local energy democracy and grid resiliency

The company is already starting deliveries of its Go portable EV charger towards the end of the year and says its next solution will reshape public EV charging for every community while providing local energy democracy and grid resiliency.

This represents the second phase of its strategic plan to provide convenient, low-cost access to energy for everyone.

The new product has been designed to overcome challenges associated with public level 2 AC charging and provide low-cost, convenient charging accessible to everyone, no matter where they park or live.

The announcement follows recent national US and UK government plans to expand EV charging infrastructure, with a focus on-street, in rural areas and unrepresented communities.

ZipCharge co-founder Jonathan Carrier said: “Our announcement will be a natural evolution from the ZipCharge Go, and will serve to further remove common barriers to EV ownership – by bringing the possibility of charging to anyone who can’t currently plug in at their house. In the UK alone, 8.5 million or 40% of car-owning households are without designated or off-street parking. Elsewhere, this figure reaches 60% for example in Italy, Spain, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea and in major cities in the USA, China and India.”

In the last six months the US, UK and European Union have announced ambitious plans to develop EV charging infrastructure at a national level. The Biden-⁠Harris Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan set a goal of deploying 500,000 chargers by 2030 backed by a $7.5bn (£5.7bn) investment for EV infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the UK government last month released its Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy, which has set a target of 300,000 public charge points by 2030. The Government will invest £500m to bring public charge points to communities across the UK, including £450m to boost on-street charging for those without driveways.

Jonathan Carrier added: “From the outset ZipCharge has been committed to the democratisation of energy and making EV charging more accessible to more people. Now it’s our opportunity to make EV charging part of a smart energy system, so it is more inclusive and democratic. We are excited to showcase the next stage in our journey and desire to transform how people access energy, anywhere so we can create benefits for everyone and every community, regardless of where they live, what they drive and how they move.”