Here’s a thought for this August Monday morning: just because a person leaves the employ of a very specialized, very famous company, this does not mean that this person is done with the industry or with innovation within the industry. Right? Well, we’ve got a great example in the automotive world right here: recently, a group of former Tesla employees have taken their passion for all things electric and have launched something called Hubber.
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That is Hubber?
Hubber is a company aimed at the proliferation of urban electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and networks. Apparently, after some sort of hullabaloo at Tesla, certain key members of its Supercharger team – Harry Fox, Connor Selwood, and Hugh Leckie – left to seek out new horizons. And have since channeled their expertise into the world of Hubber charging.
Why does the world need urban charging?
Urban areas are key in both need and growth of the EV infrastructure. This is due to both limited space as well as the unique demands of city traffic. Hubber is on a mission to limit (eradicate?) the “urban charging gap” by developing high-power charging hubs in densely populated areas. This, in turn would be awfully convenient for commercial vehicles like taxis and delivery vans who need charging and don’t have the time to line up at a suburban parking lot, for example.
Unlike EV owners who have detached home and garages – as in suburbia – and can charge their vehicles at home and at will, city dwellers and fleet operators mostly do not have this sort of access to charging hubs. It is for this reason that Hubber plans to transform neglected urban spaces with great potential – such as old warehouses – into buzzing (pun intended) EV charging centers. So if, let’s say, a fleet operator was hesitant to purchase a host of electric vehicles due to the unavailability of charging stations, Hubber could be the solution.
What is Hubber’s strategy?
Hubber takes unique focus specifically on the needs of commercial drivers, seeing as how they typically require more frequent charging than private vehicle owners. In choosing sites throughout cities that have been abandoned, overlooked, or underused by others—such as derelict gas stations—Hubber plans to create accessible and efficient charging solutions around the main commuter pathways.
Keep in mind, this team comes from Tesla, which understandably gives the them an advantage in both identifying and developing prime charging locations. And beyond charging alone, Hubber stations will host other essential amenities in addition to electricity, such as restrooms and vending machines. Basically, like a conventional gas station, but without the fuel.
What’s the future for Hubber?
It seems as though Hubber’s sites are also set beyond charging stations. With the inevitablity of further developments in EV technology, including autonomous vehicles, Hubber is planning accordingly. And while autonomous vehicle charging solutions haven’t fully been developed yet, Hubber is set to prepare its infrastructure keeping in mind these advances and any necessary future integration.
What’s the catch?
Well, this team of ex-Tesla innovators is based in England, and their first charging station (followed by others, no doubt) will open in London. Womp, womp. So will they manage to make it across the pond and share their genius with the good old U.S. of A? With a whopping investment of around $81 million, let’s hope so. In the meantime, we’ll be watching this space…
