Sharge Private EV Charging Pile Sharing APP

Our main focus was to promote sustainable energy use and reduce environmental impact through more efficient utilization of existing EV charging infrastructure. By enabling the sharing of underused private charging piles, we aimed to minimize the need for new construction, reduce energy waste, and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles. Ultimately, our goal was to contribute to a greener, more resilient urban ecosystem by making clean energy more accessible and practical for everyday users.

Our focus was to make EV charging more accessible, convenient, and affordable. We aimed to create a seamless platform that empowers EV drivers and charging pile owners alike, while contributing to a more efficient, sustainable urban ecosystem.

We plan to scale Sharge across cities, enhance its feature set, and explore integration with other clean energy and smart mobility systems. Our goal is to make Sharge a cornerstone of the future green energy landscape.

Sharge was born from a confluence of urgency and opportunity. As designers with architectural and systems-thinking backgrounds, we were observing rapid EV adoption—especially in China—without an equivalent expansion in public charging infrastructure. At the same time, countless private chargers sat idle, underused in gated communities and parking lots. This inefficiency sparked a question: could we unlock latent value through a sharing model? Our journey began with that premise. We conducted deep user research, explored behavioral incentives, and prototyped ways to create trust between strangers. Sharge became the bridge—transforming underutilized private assets into public resources while building a cleaner, more connected urban energy ecosystem.

In China, most private EV charging piles are located in underground residential parking lots, which creates significant navigation challenges. Traditional map-based tools often fail to guide users accurately to a specific spot within a multi-level parking structure. During user interviews, EV drivers frequently expressed frustration at arriving near a location only to struggle with finding the exact charger—especially in gated or underground environments. In response, we designed a video-based navigation feature that allows pile owners to upload short walkthrough clips showing the path from entrance to charger. This visual guidance dramatically reduces uncertainty and builds trust. Real-time scheduling was also added to give both parties confidence—drivers know the charger is available, and owners maintain control over when their charger is shared.

Trust was the central design challenge. We approached this by giving pile owners control without burden—letting them set availability windows, approve bookings, and monitor use remotely. The built-in calendar feature allows hosts to exclude the times they need the charger for themselves—such as overnight or weekday use—and open it to others only during idle hours. This avoids disruptions to their daily routine while enabling them to contribute to a cleaner city and earn passive income. For EV drivers, we ensured transparency: real-time availability, pricing, and location visuals are all clearly presented. Ratings, secure payments, and identity verification further reinforce trust. Sharge doesn’t just facilitate a transaction—it creates a system where both sides feel respected, empowered, and aligned.