Electric vehicle (EV) chargers that don't work because they're stuck offline are still a daily frustration for drivers and a costly headache for operators. Existing EV chargers often struggle with spotty connectivity, leading to failed sessions, higher operating costs, and frustrated drivers. However, Emobi and HeyCharge have announced a partnership that enables existing EV chargers to be retrofitted so they can operate reliably even in areas with poor or expensive internet connectivity, such as underground garages and dense urban buildings.
This solution allows operators to upgrade their older chargers instead of ripping them out and starting over, reducing costs and improving uptime in challenging locations. The partnership enables HeyCharge's offline technology to be paired with Emobi's roaming network, which links more than 140,000 chargers across 26+ charging networks in the US and Canada through a single API. This connection provides drivers with a more consistent charging experience across different environments, while operators gain features such as session tracking, energy-based billing, and real-time availability.
The solution is straightforward: retrofitting older chargers instead of replacing them entirely. Emobi's CEO Lin Sun Fa stated that the partnership addresses one of the most persistent challenges in EV charging: unreliable or offline chargers that were never designed for modern connectivity. HeyCharge's CEO Chris Carde added that charging needs to be secured and work everywhere, not just where the internet is strong.
The partnership aims to provide a more reliable product and a consistent charging experience for drivers across different environments. By retrofitting existing EV chargers with Emobi's roaming network, operators can reduce costs and improve uptime in challenging locations, while drivers benefit from fewer failed charging attempts in garages and urban buildings where connectivity is often weakest. The solution also enables Plug & Charge-style automatic authentication across both new and legacy chargers using Emobi's JustPlug system.
With this partnership, operators can simplify installs, lower costs, and better uptime in challenging locations, making it easier to provide reliable EV charging services to drivers. Overall, the partnership between Emobi and HeyCharge has the potential to revolutionize the way EV chargers operate, providing a more reliable and consistent charging experience for drivers across different environments.
This partnership is a game-changer for the EV charging industry, addressing one of the most persistent challenges in EV charging: unreliable or offline chargers. By retrofitting existing EV chargers with Emobi's roaming network, operators can reduce costs and improve uptime in challenging locations, while drivers benefit from fewer failed charging attempts.
