WEX Venture Capital Seeks to Invest up to $100M to Help Advance EV Fleet Transition

Rhea-AI Summary

WEX (NYSE: WEX) announces the launch of WEX Venture Capital, authorizing up to $100 million investment in early-stage companies focused on energy transition, including fleet electrification and EV charging ecosystem. WEX Venture Capital has already started deploying capital, including minority investments in Chargetrip and ev.energy.

Positive

• WEX's initiative to invest in early-stage startups focused on energy transition demonstrates its commitment to leading the energy transition to EVs and supporting the next generation of electrification.
• The investment arm, WEX Venture Capital, has the potential to create new value for WEX's global fleet customers and partners across the fueling and charging ecosystem, reflecting a forward-thinking approach to business growth.
• The recent investments in Chargetrip and ev.energy highlight WEX Venture Capital's focus on range prediction, EV routing technology, and managed charging software for commercial fleets, positioning WEX as a significant player in the evolving electric mobility ecosystem.

Negative

• None.

Investments will likely target early-stage startups to nurture the next generation of electrification and to align with WEX’s mission to lead the energy transition to EVs

PORTLAND, Maine--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

WEX (NYSE: WEX), the global commerce platform that simplifies the business of running a business, today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a new investment arm of WEX, WEX Venture Capital, to invest up to $100 million through the end of 2025, which will likely be made predominantly in early-stage companies focused on the energy transition, including areas such as fleet electrification, the electric vehicle (EV) charging ecosystem, energy management and optimization, and adjacent technology. WEX Venture Capital has already started to deploy capital, including minority investments in Chargetrip and ev.energy.

“WEX Venture Capital is proof that we do not have to choose between doing what’s right for business and what’s right for the future of mobility,” said Melissa Smith, Chair, Chief Executive Officer, and President, WEX. “From routing and energy management to fuel payment systems, the energy transition will benefit from innovation in fleet management offerings, creating flexibility for our customers to seamlessly charge or fuel at work, home, and en route. WEX Venture Capital’s investments will be aimed at supporting companies focused on the critical back-end infrastructure necessary to achieve widespread commercial EV adoption, while also creating new value for WEX’s global fleet customers navigating the evolving electric mobility ecosystem. This is a crucial moment for WEX and the larger fleet industry, and we’re proud to help lead this transition.”

Already a trusted advisor to fleet mobility customers, including more than 18 million vehicles serviced globally as of Q2 2023, the portfolio companies in which WEX Venture Capital expects to invest will have the potential to benefit from the capital investment as well as the potential commercial opportunities presented by WEX’s fleet mobility customers and partners across the broader and evolving fueling and charging ecosystem.

“In the years to come, the energy transition will transform how we move employees and goods around the economy,” said Jay Dearborn, Chief Strategy Officer, WEX. “WEX Venture Capital positions WEX to not only serve our commercial customers with the innovation we drive from within, but to also participate and help unlock rich innovation that is happening across the ecosystem.”

The new initiative reflects the importance of engaging with outside innovators and companies, which complements WEX’s historical approach to growth through traditional M&A and internal development efforts. WEX Venture Capital diversifies WEX’s long-term strategy by positioning the company to identify new revenue models, provide visibility beyond WEX’s current product roadmap, and participate in the early-stage product innovation ecosystem as many of its fleet mobility customers begin to migrate from internal combustion engine vehicles to EVs and mixed fleets as part of the energy transition.

WEX Venture Capital’s investment thesis is reflected in its recent investments in Chargetrip, a Netherlands-based company focused on range prediction and EV routing for private drivers and commercial fleets, and ev.energy, a UK-based company offering a managed charging software platform for EVs. ev.energy announced its $33 million Series B round of financing today.

“We are thrilled to welcome Chargetrip and ev.energy to the WEX Venture Capital portfolio,” said Carlos Carriedo, Chief Operating Officer, International, WEX. “Chargetrip’s deep expertise in range prediction and routing technology for EV fleets and ev.energy’s managed charging platform are both critical in helping our clients optimize their EV investments. We look forward to collaborating with Chargetrip and ev.energy to help strengthen their first-mover advantage in market awareness, product maturity, and traction as fleets convert to EVs over time.”

“The investment from WEX Venture Capital is a major step towards our goal to be the number one design partner for electrifying fleets. With WEX’s network and fleet software expertise, Chargetrip will be able to access new customers, benefit from WEX leadership’s knowledge, and grow its North American presence,” said Gideon van Dijk, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Chargetrip.

"WEX Venture Capital is a great partner for ev.energy, giving us access to millions of fleet vehicles across the US and Europe. I'm excited about working with WEX to help fleet managers save thousands and reduce carbon emissions through the vehicle-grid integration of fleet EVs," said Nick Woolley, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, ev.energy.

WEX Venture Capital is launched as the growth of EV adoption reaches an inflection point. Given its leading position in the fuel payments industry, serving over 600,000 fleet customers worldwide, WEX Venture Capital enables WEX to play a meaningful role in the greater electric mobility ecosystem by assisting a variety of new stakeholders, from energy suppliers to charge point operators, OEMs, charging locations, and energy markets, among others as they streamline the future of charging and payments.

For more information about WEX Venture Capital, please visit https://vc.wexinc.com.

About WEX

WEX (NYSE: WEX) is the global commerce platform that simplifies the business of running a business. WEX has created a powerful ecosystem that offers seamlessly embedded, personalized solutions for its customers around the world. Through its rich data and specialized expertise in simplifying benefits, reimagining mobility and paying and getting paid, WEX aims to make it easy for companies to overcome complexity and reach their full potential. For more information, please visit www.wexinc.com.

About WEX Venture Capital

WEX Venture Capital is the venture capital arm of WEX (NYSE: WEX) with an authorization of $100 million in capital focused on identifying and helping advance next-generation technology and companies focused on the energy transition. Investment areas of focus include fleet electrification, the electric vehicle (EV) charging ecosystem, energy management and optimization, and adjacent technology. WEX Venture Capital offers portfolio companies the potential to benefit from the breadth of WEX's global fleet business and expertise, while guiding WEX fleet customers as they navigate the expected global EV transition. For more information, please visit https://vc.wexinc.com.

About Chargetrip

Chargetrip is an API-based SaaS company that enables fleet electrification and e-mobility application development with EV routing and range prediction technology. Its platform routes about 15% of Europe's EV drivers and is trusted by top EV charging, vehicle rental, and energy utility companies globally. In addition to WEX Venture Capital, Chargetrip is backed by world-class investors HSBC Asset Management, Riverstone, Blue Bear Capital, Vindeggen, and Axel Springer Porsche. Learn more at https://chargetrip.com.

About ev.energy

ev.energy is a Certified B Corporation® with a mission to make EV charging greener, cheaper, and smarter for utilities and their customers. Its end-to-end software platform wirelessly connects to a range of electric vehicles and chargers to intelligently manage EV charging while working with utilities to put cash back in customers’ wallets for charging at grid-friendly times. With a global base of utility, vehicle OEM and EVSE partners, ev.energy manages more than 100,000 EVs on its platform each day. Learn more at https://ev.energy/business.

Forward-Looking Statements made by WEX

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding expectations for future investments. Any statements that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. When used in this release, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “seeks,”“will”, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such words. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including: WEX’s ability and timing to execute on any such investments and the success of such investments, as well as other risks and uncertainties identified in Item 1A of WEX’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2023 and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on April 27, 2023 and any subsequent SEC filings. WEX's forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential future impact of any alliance, merger, acquisition, disposition or stock repurchases. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. WEX disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230726351925/en/

News media:

WEX

Julie Lydon, 415-816-9397

Julie.Lydon@wexinc.com

Investor:

WEX

Steve Elder, 207-523-7769

Steve.Elder@wexinc.com

Source: WEX

FAQ

What is the new investment arm authorized by WEX?

WEX has authorized a new investment arm, WEX Venture Capital, to invest up to $100 million in early-stage companies focused on energy transition, including fleet electrification and the EV charging ecosystem.

What companies have received investments from WEX Venture Capital?

WEX Venture Capital has made minority investments in Chargetrip and ev.energy, with a focus on range prediction, EV routing technology, and managed charging software for commercial fleets.

How does WEX Venture Capital's investment benefit WEX's global fleet customers?

The investments aim to create new value for WEX's global fleet customers and partners across the fueling and charging ecosystem, reflecting WEX's commitment to supporting the energy transition to EVs.

What is the significance of WEX's investment in Chargetrip and ev.energy?

The investments in Chargetrip and ev.energy highlight WEX's focus on range prediction, EV routing technology, and managed charging software for commercial fleets, positioning WEX as a significant player in the evolving electric mobility ecosystem.