The electric vehicle market is accelerating at an incredible pace. More models are coming to market with longer ranges and lower prices. But for many would-be EV owners, the lack of available public charging remains a barrier. Waiting hours to charge at a single public station – or worse, finding that the few nearby stations are all occupied – is unacceptable for most drivers.

Recognizing this gap, some entrepreneurs see an opportunity to build the infrastructure that can make EVs a reality for more people. Charge Ahead is an electric vehicle charging start-up based in San Francisco. Founded in 2016 by CEO Jennifer Lawrence and CTO Michael Banner, Charge Ahead aims to become the largest owner and operator of EV charging stations in North America.

Charge Ahead’s business model is simple – build a large network of fast charging stations along major highways and in dense urban areas, then charge EV owners a usage fee to charge their vehicles. However, the execution is anything but simple. Installing a single DC fast charging station can cost between $10,000 to $40,000, depending on the power level and number of chargers.

To fund its ambitious expansion plans, Charge Ahead has raised over $100 million in venture capital from major investors like BMW’s iVentures, ChargePoint, and the venture arms of several major utilities. The company is using the funds to aggressively expand its charging network, with a goal of operating over 10,000 DC fast charging stations across North America by 2025.

While Tesla has built over 12,000 Superchargers for its own vehicles, Charge Ahead is focused on building a network that can charge all brands of EVs, including Teslas with an adapter. The company currently has charging partnerships with BMW, Nissan, Ford, GM, and other automakers to help determine the best locations for new charging stations based on existing and projected EV ownership.

Charge Ahead’s first stations went live in mid-2018. As of early 2019, the company operates over 1,000 DC fast charging stations across California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, with smaller networks in a dozen other states and provinces. At Charge Ahead’s stations, EV owners can get an 80% charge in 20-30 minutes for around $10-$15 per session.

The EV charging industry is poised for massive growth over the next decade to meet the needs of the increasing number of electric vehicles on the road. While government grants and utility programs will help fund some new charging points, private companies like Charge Ahead that can operate at scale will be critical to developing the robust charging infrastructure that can make EVs a viable option for more drivers. Charge Ahead’s success in building out a large, reliable network across North America could make it a leader in the booming EV charging market.