Enhancing Grid Resilience and EV Charging Efficiency Through Advanced Technology

XCharge North America (XCharge NA) is a provider of high-power electric vehicle (EV) charging and battery-integrated solutions designed to strengthen the North American electrical grid. Since its inception in 2022, XCharge NA has developed a suite of products designed to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of EV charging, most recently launching its GridLink product in October 2024. Beyond rapid EV charging, GridLink’s bidirectional charging capabilities stabilize and strengthen the grid by storing energy and returning it back to the system during peak demand periods. By optimizing energy management and improving grid resilience, GridLink reportedly addresses some of the most pressing concerns associated with large-scale EV adoption.

POWER had a chance to question Aatish Patel, co-founder and president of XCharge NA, to learn more about GridLink and trends the company has observed in the EV charging space. Highlights from the interview follow.

POWER: Your GridLink technology offers bidirectional charging capabilities. Based on your deployment data so far, what percentage of EV owners are actively participating in vehicle-to-grid services, and what financial or other incentives have proven most effective in driving adoption?

Patel: Our deployment data to date shows that active participation in vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services among EV owners remains minimal. While the promise of using EVs for demand response and backup power is real, it hasn’t yet translated into widespread adoption. What we are seeing, however, is clear momentum where the economics make sense, especially in battery-to-grid (B2G) applications.

The strongest motivator is financial. Technologies like GridLink have been instrumental in driving adoption, not because of the novelty of V2G or B2G, but because they offer tangible savings and operational advantages. GridLink reduces both infrastructure and operating costs by eliminating the need for costly “make-ready” upgrades, owing to its ability to support 208 VAC and 480 VAC without hardware modifications. That adaptability translates into less intensive installations and dramatically lower deployment costs.

Moreover, with substantial onboard storage capacities—215 kWh and 430 kWh—GridLink enables energy operators to optimize battery usage strategically. This allows for lower kWh rates through demand charge management and time-of-use optimization, directly improving margins and enabling more competitive market pricing.

POWER: Grid capacity concerns continue to dominate discussions around widespread EV adoption. From your perspective and data, which regions of North America are showing the most substantial grid constraints when it comes to charging infrastructure deployment, and how is this affecting your expansion strategy?

Patel: Both California and Texas are facing the most substantial constraints in grid capacity, according to our data. These two states lead the pack not just in EV adoption, but also in overall power demand, which puts additional pressure on their already stressed grids. As a result, deploying new charging infrastructure in these regions often runs up against capacity limitations, permitting delays, and high upgrade costs.

Beyond those high-demand states, we’re also seeing serious challenges in regions across North America that lack baseline infrastructure altogether—not just in terms of grid capacity, but also in broader logistical readiness. These areas may not have sufficient power delivery, but they also often lack the foundational infrastructure needed for any kind of large-scale technology deployment.

It was with this in mind that we designed GridLink to be inherently adaptable. Its compatibility with both 208 VAC and 480 VAC (without costly hardware modifications) means it can be deployed quickly and efficiently across a wide range of power environments. This flexibility reduces the burden of installation, limits the need for costly grid upgrades, and accelerates infrastructure buildout, even in regions with significant grid limitations like rural areas.

As we scale, our expansion strategy is focused on speed and adaptability. We’re prioritizing deployments where grid flexibility is critical and where GridLink’s capabilities can make the biggest impact in overcoming infrastructure bottlenecks.

POWER: In the current political climate, how has investor sentiment toward EV charging infrastructure changed in the past six months, and what metrics are investors most focused on when evaluating the sector’s health?

Patel: Investor sentiment toward EV charging infrastructure has remained positive, even in a shifting and unclear political climate. I believe widespread EV adoption is no longer a question of “if,” but “how fast.” That’s why the demand for robust, scalable charging infrastructure is now an urgent priority—and savvy investors recognize the opportunity.

That said, the tone of the investment conversation has shifted. Over the past six months, we’ve seen a marked shift away from enthusiasm driven by government incentives or policy tailwinds. Instead, investors are more focused on profitability and long-term viability. They’re looking for real businesses with sustainable models, not just short-term plays chasing subsidies.

Metrics that matter most now include unit economics, deployment scalability, operating margins, and technology differentiation—especially in solutions like V2G and B2G that offer clear paths to monetization through grid services and energy optimization. As long as there’s a sound business case (and innovations like GridLink prove that there is) investors are eager to participate and push the infrastructure buildout forward.

POWER: Looking at your utilization data across different regions, what patterns are emerging regarding the relationship between public charging availability and EV adoption rates? Is there evidence supporting the “build it and they will come” approach, or are other factors more decisive?

Patel: XCharge NA’s data confirms that widespread adoption of EVs at scale isn’t just dependent on building infrastructure, but rather on building the right infrastructure in the right places. The most important factors in the utility of any infrastructure are visibility, reliability, and accessibility. It makes logical sense: A charger that’s visible, accessible, and consistently functional will get used. One that’s tucked away, poorly maintained, or inconvenient won’t—no matter how many EVs are on the road. So, while the “build it and they will come” mindset has some truth to it, I think we’d say the better way to frame it is: build it well and build it where it matters.

Take our deployment near an airport in Harahan, Louisiana. Since installation, usage has steadily increased, driven largely by Uber and Lyft drivers operating in and around that high-traffic hub. This shows how strategic siting tied to real-world behaviors (like rideshare activity) drives utilization and, over time, fosters broader EV adoption.

This is exactly why we emphasize infrastructure that fits the location. GridLink’s adaptability allows us to deploy quickly and cost-effectively across a wide variety of environments, but we never treat siting as one-size-fits-all. Success isn’t just about adding chargers to the map—it’s about making each one count.

—Aaron Larson is POWER’s executive editor.