HeyCharge awarded €2.5M EIC grant to expand EV charging solutions for apartment buildings

Munich, Germany — In a significant boost for Europe’s electric vehicle (EV) charging landscape, Munich-based startup HeyCharge has secured a €2.5 million grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator. This funding marks a pivotal moment for the company, which has already raised €6.3 million in private investment from high-profile backers including BMW i Ventures, Statkraft Ventures, and Y Combinator.

The grant arrives at a critical juncture as EV adoption accelerates across Europe, yet charging infrastructure struggles to keep pace—particularly in residential and workplace settings. With an estimated 200 million Europeans living in multi-unit residential buildings, many featuring underground or semi-underground parking where traditional charging solutions falter, HeyCharge’s innovative approach couldn’t be more timely.

The challenge is straightforward but significant: conventional EV chargers depend on continuous internet connectivity for user authentication and billing. In underground parking structures, where mobile and Wi-Fi signals are notoriously unreliable, this dependency creates a cascade of problems—from reduced charging reliability to substantially higher installation costs due to the need for additional communication infrastructure.

HeyCharge’s solution, dubbed SecureCharge, takes a radically different approach. By leveraging one-time cryptographic tokens generated directly on users’ smartphones, the system can authenticate and authorize charging sessions without requiring constant internet connectivity. This offline capability not only ensures reliable operation in challenging environments like underground garages but also eliminates the need for expensive communications infrastructure—potentially reducing installation costs by more than 40%, according to the company.

“Our technology works 100 per cent reliably even in underground garages,” explains Chris Cardé, founder and CEO of HeyCharge. “Because we’ve eliminated the need for communications infrastructure—the cabling, the specialist labour, the ongoing maintenance—we cut installation costs by more than 40 per cent. That’s how you democratize home charging.”

The implications extend beyond mere convenience. By dramatically reducing installation barriers and ensuring reliable operation in previously problematic environments, HeyCharge’s technology could accelerate EV adoption among the millions of Europeans who currently lack access to home charging. This democratization of charging access addresses one of the most significant hurdles to widespread EV adoption: the ability to conveniently charge at home or work.

Dr. Robert Lasowski, co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer, views the EIC grant as validation of their approach. “This funding reflects confidence in our technology and will support scaling from our existing deployments to wider adoption across Europe,” he notes. The grant will specifically fund the SecureCharge FLEX project, which aims to accelerate development, certification, and large-scale pilot deployments across multiple European countries.

The timing aligns perfectly with Europe’s ambitious climate goals and the European Union’s push toward carbon neutrality. As governments implement stricter emissions regulations and offer incentives for EV adoption, the availability of reliable, affordable charging infrastructure becomes increasingly critical. HeyCharge’s technology directly addresses this infrastructure gap, particularly in urban areas where multi-unit dwellings dominate the housing landscape.

Industry analysts suggest that HeyCharge’s approach could fundamentally reshape how EV charging infrastructure is deployed. By removing the connectivity requirement and associated infrastructure costs, property developers and building managers may find it economically viable to install charging stations in locations previously considered impractical or prohibitively expensive.

The company’s partnership with BMW i Ventures provides additional credibility and potential for integration with premium EV offerings, while Statkraft Ventures’ involvement signals strong interest from the renewable energy sector. This combination of automotive and energy expertise positions HeyCharge uniquely to address the complex intersection of transportation electrification and energy infrastructure.

As the SecureCharge FLEX project moves forward, all eyes will be on HeyCharge’s pilot deployments across Europe. Success in these real-world implementations could establish a new standard for residential and workplace EV charging, potentially influencing how cities and developers approach charging infrastructure in the coming decade.

The €2.5 million EIC grant represents more than just financial support—it’s a strategic investment in Europe’s EV future, recognizing that solving the charging infrastructure challenge is essential for achieving broader climate and transportation electrification goals. With HeyCharge’s technology, the dream of convenient, reliable home charging for every EV owner moves closer to reality, regardless of where they live or work.

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