Scaling up its network, ChargeSini pitches ownership of EV chargers as a side hustle

Electric vehicle sales in Malaysia have long been modest, but they surged by 286% in 2023. Throw in a subsidy proposed by the government earlier this week, and adoption rates could skyrocket, fueling a need for expanded charging infrastructure. Local startup ChargeSini ('charge here') wants to capture a significant share of that market, in part by inviting people to invest in individual charging stations as a side business.

Starting from MRY 100,000, 'project partners' can own a charging station. ChargeSini installs a fast DC charger with 60 kW output, handles repairs and adds each charger to its consumer app for findability and payment processing. All net profits go to the charging point's owner. For its initial offering, the startup secured parking spots at a few dozen Lotus's supermarkets — prime locations requiring higher investments of MRY 210,000–250,000. Presumably, partners will also be encouraged to scout high-traffic locations on their own.