From sitting in a parking lot logging chargers by hand to Tesla's first third-party Supercharger partner

Nobody likes to wait. Whether we're in line for Space Mountain at Disney World or checking out at the local Trader Joe's, we all want to be in and out, ASAP.

When it comes to EV charging, however, that's not yet possible. While an ICE vehicle can fill up in around five minutes, an EV connected to the speediest commercial chargers still need about three times as long just to get to 80% of battery capacity.

Add that to the long waiting lines often seen at crowded commercial high-speed charging stations and potential EV owners begin to wonder, why should I give up my gasoline vehicle for what could be an inconvenient and unpleasant experience?

Which is exactly the quandary that Suncoast Charging was determined to solve for EV owners in the southeastern U.S. Despite having the second highest number of EVs in the country, Florida has been plagued by a dearth of commercial high-speed charging stations, resulting in long lines and frustrated owners.

And those charging stations that do exist are often in undesirable locations, giving drivers nothing to do as they wait their turn to charge and then wait even more once plugged in.

"Charging an EV in Florida has often been a terrible experience," noted Wesley Sima, Suncoast's co-founder. "Where you can charge is not where you want to charge. There's just no focus on the driver experience."

Sima, who built his executive career in the energy sector, with a particular focus on clean energy finance and investing, saw a niche for changing the paradigm by creating a charging network that people would actually enjoy visiting.

That meant offering the latest technology in fast, reliable, high-speed chargers, and doing so in a venue that included a wide range of entertainment and dining experiences to help while away the time.

Suncoast, headquartered in St. Petersburg, FL, has its first two Florida locations in service and plans for 175 total in the next five years. The company looks to lease property in existing locations that include a range of grocery store anchored plazas, quick service restaurants, mixed use retail, and other amenities.

For example, at The Hub at Bexley in Land O' Lakes, Suncoast customers can choose from American breakfast, Italian, Mexican, and Vietnamese fare, or have a drink at the brewpub. A similar range of dining options plus a golf simulator, are featured at its Hub at Lexington Oaks location in Wesley Chapel. Both locations also offer a barbershop, nail salon, and pet supply store.

To get the job done, Suncoast needed working capital. To prove to investors that his venture made sense, Sima at first got information the hard way: he sat in his car for hours outside of competitive charging stations, jotting down utilization data throughout the day.

An internet search led him to Paren, the EV charging data insights company. It supplied him with more comprehensive information, including the number of local competitors' charging sessions, charging costs, and hourly utilization rates.

"My investors thought all this information was very interesting," Sima said. "Without the Paren data, I would have been way less confident in starting the business and way less prepared for raising capital."

With money committed, Sima searched for the best charging hardware. After investigating a handful of manufacturers, including one that wasn't interested in selling to a startup, Suncoast chose Tesla—and became its first third-party customer in North America.

Through its new "Supercharger for Business" program, Tesla offers third-parties Superchargers that feature white-labeled units with 97% uptime. "They're a one-stop shop for software, billing, and hardware; we don't need to piece things together," Sima said.

"We went with them because we thought they have the most proven technology on the market."

While Suncoast had the freedom to put its own logo on the chargers, it also wanted to use its influence for good, understanding that people who drive EVs may also be people who care about the environment. To do so, they've used their charging stations to create an immersive experience to help customers learn more about the Florida Wildlife Corridor and the importance of conservation. (The Corridor includes the nearest public lands, animals, and plant life that make up Florida's most important eco-systems.)

Soon, Suncoast will be announcing a partnership with a Florida based organization, using storytelling to inspire the protection of wildlife corridors. Drivers will learn about the habitats nearest to the charging station, why they're important for animals and humans, and how the driver can help in their preservation. That could include suggested actions that drivers can take, such as a hike to see the owl that's emblazoned on the charger, or ways to get more involved in conservation or nature. Suncoast also plans on offering a rewards program for drivers to either get a free charge after a certain number of visits or donate the equivalent amount to the Wildlife Corridor.

The results to date: In a matter of months after opening, both locations are cash-flow positive. Daily charging sessions at Suncoast's Land O' Lakes location, with eight bays, have more than doubled from ~50 to over 100. Lexington's four bays are receiving ~30 daily sessions, but Sima expects more once all the contracted amenities open to the public and traffic to the property consequently increases.

The company has two new charging projects in the permitting phase in South Florida and over 10 in various stages of development in Florida and Georgia. All new locations after the next two will move from its current 325 kW chargers to Tesla's latest V4 units, capable of charging up to 500 kW.

Suncoast sees those two states as only the beginning, believing that it has the right formula to allow it to expand to other parts of the country. Their efforts are aided by co-founder David Patrick, who has extensive experience in scaling EV infrastructure, building hundreds of charging stations throughout the country. And indications are that they're on the right track.

"People are now asking us to partner, rather than vice-versa," Sima said.

Suncoast has moved from purchasing Paren's single state data to its nationwide offering; it's also expanding its subscription to one of the highest-available tiers.

"We rely on Paren's nationwide data to help analyze our opportunities; it gives us the confidence to build new locations in less familiar geographies," Sima added.

"Our relationship with Paren has only strengthened. Their team is top class."