London-based EV charging platform Bonnet has announced that it has secured £920,000 in new funding to further grow its team and expand partnerships with network operators.
Founded in 2019 by co-founders Patrick Reich and Eliot Makabu, the Bonnet app offers drivers real-time data on charger availability and functionality – drawn from multiple sources – and offers drivers ‘bundles’ of cheaper charging that they can use anyway across the network, rolling over what they don’t use into the next month.
Bonnet’s charging bundles give drivers access to the 40+ different charging networks in the UK, at low rates and with 24/7 support.
Bonnet has so far aggregated charging points in 1,400 locations across the UK and aims to have integrated with 70% UK chargepoints by the end of 2021.
The funding will support the growth of the 10-strong team at Bonnet as well as expanding the platform’s chargepoint offering and partnerships with network operators.
Furthermore, Bonnet is also introducing semi-public and private charging points for app users, enabling domestic chargepoint owners to monetise as part of a semi-public network.
“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,” said Bonnet 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 charge point access.”
Bonnet’s new funding was provided via an £850,000 equity investment from Ascension Ventures with investors from Imperial College London and APX, and a £70,000 grant from Innovate UK and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles.
