Philippine EV Charging Startup CHRG Secures Japanese Investment for Infrastructure Expansion
CHRG Electric Vehicle Technologies, a University of the Philippines Diliman spin-off, has secured its first equity investment from Japan-based Leave a Nest Group and IGNYSIA Holding to accelerate EV infrastructure development across the Philippines. This funding will support the commercial deployment of its CharM rapid charging technology and a planned inter-island charging highway.
Philippine electric vehicle (EV) charging startup CHRG Electric Vehicle Technologies, a spin-off from the University of the Philippines Diliman, has secured its first equity investment from Japan-based Leave a Nest Group and IGNYSIA Holding. The early-stage funding round was finalized on September 24, 2026, marking a significant step for the company's expansion efforts across the Philippines.
This investment is set to accelerate the development of EV infrastructure in the country, particularly through the commercial deployment of CHRG's proprietary CharM rapid charging technology. CharM, which previously earned a Gold Award at WorldInvent Singapore 2024, was developed to significantly reduce the typical four-to-six-hour charging times experienced by public electric vehicles in the Philippines, making electric mobility more practical for both commercial and public transport (Source: electricvehicletalks.com, chrg.tech).
A flagship ambition for CHRG is the creation of an inter-island charging highway, designed to connect the Philippines' geographically diverse islands with a reliable EV charging ecosystem. This strategic network aims to support the expanding adoption of electric vehicles beyond major urban centers, facilitating long-distance electric travel across the archipelago.
The transaction not only provides capital but also signals growing Japanese interest in Southeast Asia's deep-tech and EV infrastructure sectors. Furthermore, the Philippine government, as highlighted in the Philippine Development Report 2024, actively encourages foreign investment, including from New Zealand, into innovation and technology like EV charging, suggesting potential avenues for future collaborations (Source: depdev.gov.ph).
Key facts
- CHRG Electric Vehicle Technologies, a Philippine startup spun off from UP Diliman, secured its initial equity investment from Japan's Leave a Nest Group and IGNYSIA Holding.
- The funding, finalized on September 24, 2026, will advance CHRG's CharM rapid charging technology from research to commercial deployment throughout the Philippines.
- A key initiative is the development of an inter-island charging highway, aiming to connect the country's geographically separated islands with reliable EV charging links.
- CHRG's CharM technology addresses previous challenges of lengthy four-to-six-hour charging times for Filipino public electric vehicles, enhancing EV practicality.
- The Philippine government actively invites foreign investment, including from New Zealand, into innovation and technology sectors such as EV charging infrastructure. (Source: depdev.gov.ph)
Official sources
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