The principle is simple: owners of private wallboxes can release time slots and set their own charging tariffs. EV drivers see the price upfront, reserve a time window, and can then charge via the platform. No charging card or subscription is required.
Once a reservation is accepted, €30 is initially authorised on the driver’s payment card. Only the actual amount of electricity consumed is then billed. Payments are processed via Stripe. The charging session can only be started by the driver for whom the corresponding reservation has been confirmed. In addition to the electricity price set by the owner, Pulsa charges a platform fee of €0.05 per kilowatt-hour including VAT. There is also a start fee of €0.35 per charging session.
Technically, the platform is based on Charger360 and supports wallboxes with OCPP 1.6J and 2.0.1. This allows compatible charging points from various manufacturers to be connected. Pulsa lists models from Alfen, EVBox, Easee, Zaptec, Wallbox, Smappee, ABB, KEBA, ABL, Mennekes (DE) and Elli or Volkswagen, among others. Whether a specific device works depends on the model, firmware, and configuration.
A special feature is the OCPP proxy function of Charger360. In suitable configurations, it enables Pulsa to be used alongside an existing charging platform. The owner could thus temporarily make their wallbox available to other drivers while continuing to use their existing app or other functions for private charging. However, Pulsa does not guarantee full compatibility with all existing systems.
This approach differs from traditional public charging networks. The wallbox is not permanently opened to any user. The owner decides on availability and reservations themselves, and only the confirmed driver receives access for the booked time slot.
Pulsa also sees this as an opportunity to market excess solar power. How attractive the model becomes for owners depends not only on the electricity price but also on how many drivers are willing to use private properties or driveways for charging. The market is not entirely new: in the Netherlands, there are already other services for sharing private charging points, including Charge Circle and Monta. However, these sometimes differ in terms of technical access, billing, and whether an existing charging platform can continue to be used.
In the first three weeks, the platform recorded 250 registrations, according to the founder. The decisive factor will now be whether Pulsa can attract enough active wallbox owners and drivers to create a functional network.
