DeCharge debuts in the DMV, New York, and California, aiming to onboard 1,000+ hosts and transform idle spaces into decentralized clean energy hubs.
DeCharge, a decentralized EV charging startup, has launched its U.S. operations with a bold goal: to build the world’s first community-owned EV charging network. Backed by $2.5 million in seed funding, the company is targeting high-traffic areas in the DMV, New York, and California to pilot its AI-powered, host-driven infrastructure model.
“EV adoption is skyrocketing across the U.S., but infrastructure hasn’t kept pace,” said Mohan Kuldeep Ponnada, Founder and CEO of DeCharge. “Our vision is to decentralize energy access and create an open network where anyone can earn by powering the future of mobility.”
DeCharge enables property owners—whether small businesses, commercial fleets, or parking lot operators—to install its plug-and-play 7.4kW chargers without upfront capital. Hosts maintain pricing control and benefit from real-time payments and long-term revenue sharing. This model is designed to address a critical infrastructure gap: as of early 2025, only 183,000 public charging ports were available in the U.S., far short of the 1.2 million needed by 2030, according to DOE estimates.
The platform integrates blockchain-based payments and AI for load balancing and pricing optimization. With these features, DeCharge hopes to appeal not just to early adopters, but also to underserved areas and fleets requiring predictable, affordable charging options.
Initial deployments are underway in the DMV region (Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia), where EV demand is growing but public infrastructure lags behind. Maryland’s EV adoption rate, for example, reached 6% in Q2 2025, but rural and suburban areas remain underserved by major charging providers.
The company plans to onboard over 1,000 hosts across 10 states within the next year, including urban hubs and regions where community energy investment is gaining traction.
DeCharge’s long-term roadmap includes tokenized incentives and community governance—a sharp contrast to proprietary networks currently dominating the sector. The company’s “Beast” smart chargers are designed for both commercial and residential deployment and will be accessible through a forthcoming app and web portal.
The startup’s pitch taps into growing sentiment that energy access should be local, inclusive, and economically distributed. Its business model aligns with a broader shift toward decentralized infrastructure across energy, mobility, and broadband sectors.
