The Munich-based startup Chargex is developing a solution that enables charging multiple electric cars from a single connection. We asked the founders our 7 questions.
1. Who are you and what do you do? Please briefly introduce yourself and your product!
We are Chargex and want to give electromobility a real boost. To achieve this, we are developing a modular charging system for electric cars that is specifically designed for charging in underground garages and at employers' premises.
We? That's Johannes Engeln (CTO, doer/tinkerer/genius and industrial engineer), Michael (CBDO, document poring/standards enthusiast/coffee lover and also industrial engineer), Tobias (CEO, business graduate/electromobility expert/sales professional and graduate Automotive & Mobility Manager), and now six other team members. If you'd like to become part of Chargex, just visit us at chargex.de/career.
(Photo: Chargex)
“Hardware is hard”
2. But that has been around for a long time!
There are a few providers of AC charging stations, that's true. But we focus exclusively on charging multiple electric cars over an extended period of time (e.g., at home or at work). All other providers rely on expensive, intelligent individual charging stations. We, on the other hand, are developing the first fully-fledged, complete system with multiple charging points. Our idea: a multiple socket. As soon as the starter module is connected to the grid, it can be expanded with any number of plug-and-play extension modules. Charging takes place sequentially based on an intelligent charging algorithm that takes individual mobility data into account and charges the vehicles as needed. And this is precisely the kind of solution that is missing on the market. That's why we founded Chargex to set up many charging points in a cost-effective and scalable manner. Because we really do need many, many charging points for a rapid energy transition on the road.
3. What has been your biggest challenge so far?
Hardware is hard. While we also develop a lot of software, developing a reliable hardware product presents many challenges. It's not as if people haven't warned us about this. But for us, it's a necessary step to get our innovative charging infrastructure onto the streets or into underground parking garages. Therefore, we're happy to take this path.
4. Let’s get down to business: How is business going?
The market is waiting for such a charging solution. There are plenty of customer inquiries. Investors have also expressed great interest and We successfully completed our seed round at the end of 2018For us, everything depends on a rapid ramp-up of production. Even though we rely on many suppliers, there is still a lot of work ahead of us. 2019 will be crucial for us to gain a foothold in the market and, on this basis, continue to grow and impress with further innovations in the field of electromobility.
5. What does Munich mean to you?
Michael and Tobias studied here and live here too. But that wasn't the only reason Munich was our first choice for our company headquarters: The proximity to customers and producers makes life considerably easier. While searching for our office, however, we realized that we're not the only ones who enjoy working in Munich. And finding talent isn't exactly easier with the local competition. But hey—at least the journey to the team event at the mountain hut is much easier than if we were coming from Berlin. That's something, isn't it?
Chargex started in the startup shared apartment
6. How will your startup become the next unicorn? Or will we see you soon at Epic Fail Night?
Our goal is to install as many charging points as quickly as possible. That's why we founded the startup, and that's why we go to work every Monday morning. The company's value is secondary to us; it primarily serves to make negotiations with investors more exciting. Yeah, everyone claims that, many will now think. But with us, the drive truly comes from within. The electric mobility of the future requires new approaches, and that's what we stand for. Everyone is welcome to come and see for themselves in our office.
7. How do you benefit from living in a startup shared apartment?
Only one of the founders, Tobias, lives in the startup shared apartment. But thanks to the co-working space (instead of the living room) and the maker space (instead of the garage), we were able to work really well and productively on our company and the first prototypes. We now have our own office in the west of Munich, but in the beginning, we invited investors and customers into "our home" — and this was universally received. Everyone felt at home.
