Electric Class 8 truck manufacturer Orange EV has launched a new U.S.-based company delivering battery-integrated fast charging solutions for fleets, saying the startup is needed because charging infrastructure remains a bottleneck in a logistics world racing to electrify.
Kansas City, Kansas-based Orange EV said it has created and invested in OptiGrid LLC, also based in Kansas. OptiGrid will eliminate the need for costly and time-consuming grid upgrades with a drop-in platform that pairs ultrafast EV charging with onboard battery storage, Orange EV said. Designed specifically for fleet operators, its solution reduces wait times for deployment, offering high uptime, low maintenance, and the lowest total cost of ownership of any DC fast charger.
The new company was created when trucking industry veteran Wayne Hoovestol acquired FreeWire Technologies, a firm that provided battery-buffered fast charging. That approach integrates battery storage, AC-to-DC conversion, power management, and fast charger in one self-contained unit, made it possible to deploy ultrafast chargers in power-constrained locations without complex site work or utility delays.
Hoovestol then partnered with Orangeg EV founders Kurt Neutgens and Wayne Mathisen, and the group named Tyler Phillipi as OptiGrid CEO in April 2025. Today, OptiGrid has a growing team of 50 employees across California, Colorado and Kansas, and is preparing for commercial launch later this year. Orange EV is OptiGrid’s first strategic partner and launch customer.
“Fleet electrification has outpaced infrastructure, creating a gap that legacy utilities and traditional charging solutions can’t fill fast enough,” Phillipi said in a release. “The next era deserves more than promises; it demands performance. OptiGrid delivers a leap forward: rapid installs, high uptime, and true grid independence made here in the U.S.”
