Kiwi EV charging startup raises $17.5m

Napier-based electric vehicle (EV) charging startup Kwetta has secured a major funding boost, closing an oversubscribed US$10.5 million (NZ$17.5m) Series A funding round.

The investment aims to accelerate the company’s mission to address one of the biggest hurdles in EV adoption—unlocking electricity grid capacity especially for large-scale charging solutions, fleets and heavy transport.

Since its founding in 2021, Kwetta has rapidly expanded its footprint in New Zealand’s charging infrastructure with 39 high-powered charging outlets with more on the way. 

The company has also partnered with Z Energy (Z) to install its ultra-fast chargers across 11 Z service stations –– each delivering around 200kW/h, capable of providing 300-400km of range in under 20 minutes.

Kwetta’s core innovation, the ‘Prime Grid Gateway’, enables ultra-fast EV charging without costly grid upgrades or reliance on expensive battery storage.

“This funding allows us to take that mission global, scaling faster and innovating further,” the company says.

Unlike traditional solutions, which often require extensive infrastructure investment, Kwetta says its technology unlocks up to 10 times more power at constrained sites.

“This grid-first approach means we’re solving the problem at its source — building infrastructure that’s ready for the future of heavy transport electrification,” it says.

The funding round was led by Blackbird Ventures, with additional investment from Virescent Ventures (backed by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation) Icehouse Ventures, and others. Z now owned 7% of the business, according to Companies Office records.

“Heavy transport is electrifying faster than anyone expected, and the demand for solutions like ours is exponentially growing.

“Thanks to our team’s hard work and our partners’ confidence, we’re ready to help fleets, trucks, and buses electrify while keeping the grid intact,” the company says.

With a team that has grown from three founders –– Dustin Murdock (CEO), Dr. Robert Turner (CTO), and Mike Lazelle (CGO) — to over 30 employees across New Zealand and Australia, Kwetta is now eyeing international expansion.

The fresh capital will be used to scale operations, grow the team, and deploy more charging hubs to support electric buses, trucks, and fleet vehicles.

With a roadmap set for expansion, Kwetta is expected to ramp up deployments both domestically and internationally.

“While Napier remains our home, this funding opens the door for global expansion, taking Kwetta to Australia, Europe and beyond,” it says.

The company aims to establish itself as a key player in heavy transport electrification, ensuring fleets, logistics operators, and public transport networks have the infrastructure they need to transition to electric power.