ZEF Energy

ZEF Energy is an American electric vehicle (EV) charging company that designs, manufactures and operates smart charging hardware and network software. Incorporated in 2014, the company began with solar development work before pivoting to EV charging, developing its first Level 2 charger in 2015 and launching the ZEFNET smart charging software and network platform in 2017. ZEF Energy positions itself as a Made-in-USA, "Buy America" (BABA) compliant supplier of Level 2 and DC fast charging (DCFC) equipment for utilities, fleets, workplaces, multi-unit housing and government programs. The company is unusual in its ownership structure: it describes itself as employee- and customer-owned, with ownership held by more than 35 cooperatives and municipal utilities. This utility-aligned ownership underpins its go-to-market focus on utility EV charging programs, and ZEF Energy states it has worked with over 80 utility partners nationwide. It also operates its own charging network, having developed, owned and operated hundreds of DC fast charging projects across multiple states since 2014. ZEF Energy's product line centers on the ZEFNET platform, which integrates hardware, power management software and a driver app. Its commercial chargers ship with the "ZEF Energy 5-Year Advantage," a bundled package that includes a five-year product warranty, five-year cellular connectivity across major U.S. carriers, a five-year ZEFNET software license, and a 24/7/365 U.S.-based support line. The company offers Standard Series and Pro Series Level 2 chargers as well as DC fast charging powered by ZEFNET, with options that are Energy Star certified and OCPP 1.6 and OpenADR 2.0b compliant. Strategically, ZEF Energy has pursued partnerships to expand its footprint, becoming Kempower's first North American CPO (charge point operator) partner in 2022 and running a partner program for distributors, resellers and service providers. In 2020 it was awarded a 250-site public EV charging network in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, reinforcing its Minnesota roots. The company's stated mission is to support a reliable, low-emissions transition to electric vehicles while supporting the U.S. economy through domestic manufacturing with U.S. steel and U.S. labor.

ZEF Energy was incorporated in 2014, initially working on solar development. The following year, in 2015, the company developed its first ZEF Energy Level 2 charger, marking its entry into electric vehicle charging hardware. In 2016 ZEF Energy began a collaboration with Nissan and installed its first set of networked DC fast chargers in Minnesota and Wisconsin, an early step into public fast-charging infrastructure. A pivotal year was 2017, when ZEF Energy launched ZEFNET, the smart charging software and network platform that the company designs, develops and operates itself. ZEFNET became the connective layer across its hardware, enabling power management, network operations and a driver app. In 2019, alongside extensive collaboration with cooperative utilities, Wright-Hennepin Cooperative invested in ZEF Energy, deepening the company's ties to the utility sector. In 2020 ZEF Energy was awarded a 250-site public EV charging network in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, a significant deployment in its home state. In 2022 the company became Kempower's first North American CPO (charge point operator) partner, extending its reach in DC fast charging. Over this period ZEF Energy also built out a partner program for distributors, resellers and service providers, and reported working with over 80 utilities nationwide. By the mid-2020s ZEF Energy described itself as employee- and customer-owned, with ownership held by more than 35 cooperatives and municipal utilities. It manufactures and develops fully integrated smart chargers in the United States using U.S. steel and U.S. labor, and its products are installed across the country through a partner network of developers and installers. Since 2014 the company has developed, owned and operated hundreds of DC fast charging projects across multiple states.

• 2022

  Became Kempower's first North American CPO partner.

• 2020

  Awarded a 250-site public EV charging network in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

• 2019

  Wright-Hennepin Cooperative invested in ZEF Energy.

• 2017

  Launched ZEFNET, the smart charging software and network platform.

• 2016

  Started collaboration with Nissan and installed first networked DC fast chargers in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

• 2015

  Developed the first ZEF Energy Level 2 charger.

• 2014

  ZEF Energy incorporated, initially working on solar development.

Made-in-USA, Buy America-compliant smart EV charging hardware and software for utilities, fleets, workplaces, multi-unit housing and government, backed by a utility-cooperative ownership model and the bundled 5-Year Advantage program.

• Standard Series Level 2 Chargers

  Buy America-compliant Level 2 smart chargers with the 5-Year Advantage, Tier 1 cellular communications (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) plus WiFi and Ethernet, wall mount and stainless steel pedestal options, Energy Star certified.

• Pro Series Level 2 Chargers

  Level 2 chargers with the 5-Year Advantage, Tier 1 cellular communications, payment options including app, credit card, Google/Apple Pay and RFID, galvanized and stainless steel options, Buy America compliant.

• Residential Series Level 2 Chargers

  Level 2 charger option for residential use, with a spec sheet available.

• DC Fast Chargers (DCFC)

  DC fast charging powered by ZEFNET software and driver app, with the 5-Year Advantage including service warranty.

• ZEFNET Software

  Power management software integrated into all ZEF Energy products, with OCPP 1.6 and OpenADR 2.0b compliance.

• ZEF Energy Payback Calculator

  Online tool to estimate annual profit, revenue and payback timeline based on charger details, charging rates and session usage.

1. 1Made-in-USA EV Charging Solutions | ZEF Energyzefenergy.com
2. 2About — Made-in-USA EV Charging Solutions | ZEF Energyzefenergy.com
3. 3BABA-Compliant Level 2 & DC Fast Chargers | ZEF Energyzefenergy.com
4. 4ZEF energy — Wikidatawikidata.org