The two year old startup’s recent top prize recognizes its timely innovative solutions to the growing pressures on the country’s grid with rising energy demand and the core challenge of EVs to have ready access to charging.
XCharge North America’s GridLink was named “Battery Charging Technology Solution of the Year” at the 2025 AutoTech Breakthrough Awards. This award reflects the growing focus on grid resilience and sustainable transportation, as the rapid growth of electric vehicles has increased pressure on the power grid.
As a battery-integrated, grid-supportive system, Gridlock functions as both a high-power EV charger and a distributed energy resource. It stores power during off-peak hours and supplies it back to the grid during periods of high demand.
Bryan Vaughn, Managing Director of Tech Breakthrough, emphasized why GridLink stood out among this year’s entrants:
“EV infrastructure has, for too long, been reserved for high-tech, urban areas when it should be everywhere. However, the relatively unstable energy grid in many areas can’t keep up,” Vaughn said. “GridLink solves this problem with its massive onboard battery storage and bidirectional energy flow, enabling ultra-fast charging even in places where the grid is unstable. Built for resilience, speed, and sustainability, GridLink fundamentally rethinks what EV charging can be.”
Its charging speeds of up to 300 kW, enable ultra-fast charging even in regions where conventional fast chargers would be too costly or unreliable to install, reducing the strain on the grid.
In 2024, GridLink units delivered over 1.1 gigawatt-hours of energy at more than 50 North American locations, preventing nearly three million pounds of CO₂ emissions.
This demonstrates the environmental benefits of integrating EV charging with energy storage and management technology, particularly important as access expands.
Expanding Access to Fast Charging Everywhere
GridLink improves accessibility by extending advanced EV infrastructure beyond urban centers to rural and remote regions through its battery-integrated design.
It is among the first solar-plus-storage DC fast chargers in the United States, supporting up to 60 kW of solar input.
Municipalities, highway rest stops, and travel plazas can install high-capacity charging stations without expensive grid upgrades. Fleet operators and public utilities also gain operational flexibility and a cost-effective path to energy resilience, enhancing the impact of GridLink’s design beyond urban areas.
AutoTech Breakthrough Awards Recognize Innovation
The AutoTech Breakthrough Awards are among the most competitive recognitions in the global automotive and mobility industry, with thousands of nominations from more than 15 countries.
Aatish Patel, co-founder and president of XCharge North America, expresses the timeliness of the award and the company’s broader mission.
“In a time of growing energy demands and grid vulnerabilities, we are honored to be recognized for providing a solution that is not just about charging speed, but about increasing resilience, sustainability, and grid support,” Patel said.
The award recognizes both technical achievement and the societal value of providing equitable, reliable access to EV charging, which is essential for widespread electric vehicle adoption.
Award categories included autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, EV innovation, telematics, and fleet technology.
Building the Future Energy Ecosystem
As governments, automakers, and energy companies advance transportation electrification, technologies like GridLink are becoming essential.
By showing that fast charging can align with grid stability, GridLink provides a model for energy-efficient infrastructure in utilities, logistics, and community planning.
The AutoTech Breakthrough recognition generates increasing momentum for XCharge NA’s technology, with deployment expected to accelerate across North America in 2025 and beyond.
The company’s innovations demonstrate a clear path forward: charging infrastructure that meets driver needs while strengthening the grid.
