Grand Bend’s ChargerQuest wins “Breakthrough Award”

ChargerQuest of Grand Bend was awarded the Breakthrough Award during the 2022 Limitless Awards. ChargerQuest has a network of 118 EV chargers that are operating or that are “in development” as well as 42 DC fast chargers.

GRAND BEND – A Grand Bend business was honoured for strides forward in the electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure industry as part of the 2022 Limitless Awards on Feb. 9.

ChargerQuest, a company that owns and operates an EV charging network which spans across Canada, was named as the Breakthrough Award recipient.
“It’s good to be recognized for our contribution to technology and innovation,” said ChargerQuest CEO Christopher Misch. “We’re very honoured. I think it’s a stepping stone. It’s a glimpse of the crystal ball into the future. It reaffirms to us that we’re onto something huge.”
ChargerQuest was one of several companies named as award winners during this year’s online Limitless Awards ceremony, which was hosted by TechAlliance of Southwestern Ontario. The Breakthrough Award is given to a company that has “brought a novel solution, impactful to the market, and is currently generating revenue, attracting team members and creating significant buzz in Southwestern Ontario’s innovation economy.”
“Let’s allow these stories of innovation in action inspire us towards a stronger, more prosperous future,” said TechAlliance of Southwestern Ontario CEO Christina Fox in a press release. “When we rally around those who are blazing trails and setting new standards, we bolster the innovation economy together.”
According to Misch, ChargerQuest has about 118 chargers operating or that are “in development” in five provinces, as well as 42 DC fast chargers. He said there are plans to install six new chargers in the Colonial Hotel’s parking lot as soon as April, and chargers are also being installed in Saugeen Shores and Tobermory.
Misch, who currently lives in Grand Bend and is from the Hanover area, said he chose to start ChargerQuest in Grand Bend with hopes of supporting the local economy and avoiding the higher costs of being based in a city.
Misch said EV infrastructure is “paramount” as the world continues to fight against climate change.
“One thing that this pandemic has really put a light on is climate change and environmental issues,” said Misch. “The EV industry is probably the fastest growing industry in the world, and when we’re looking at greenhouse gas emissions and trying to decarbonize the world, the transportation sector is a big contributor to that.”
Speaking about the hurdles that need to be overcome in EV infrastructure, Misch said many people considering buying electric vehicles are hesitant because of the lack of infrastructure, and that most companies installing chargers are targeting large cities, leaving gaps in the infrastructure.
“We’re taking a different approach,” he said. “We want to fill in the gaps in infrastructure and connect people to the places they really want to go.”
For more information about the 2022 Limitless Awards, visit techalliance.ca/limitless.