OpenRoad Technologies Awarded $185K Grant to Pioneer Ultrafast Home EV Charging
Santa Cruz, CA – October 15th, 2025 – OpenRoad Technologies has been awarded a $185,000 grant by the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) via the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform (MMFP) to support a groundbreaking test deployment at Kettering University—one of the nation’s leading research and automotive-focused engineering schools. The funding will accelerate OpenRoad’s development of the first-ever home battery backup system capable of delivering true Level 3 DC fast charging—up to 150 kW—in residential homes, without needing any electrical panel upgrades.
Building on the success of its earlier California Energy Commission award, OpenRoad is now pivoting to bring its modular, high-speed charging technology into the home, where the need for fast, reliable EV charging is rapidly outpacing grid infrastructure upgrades. This effort combines the power of a Tesla Supercharger with the resilience and backup features of a Tesla Powerwall—reimagined as a plug-and-play residential system.
“Kettering is the perfect place to validate this next phase,” said Evan Kirchhoff, Co-founder and CEO of OpenRoad. “This grant allows us to demonstrate that true fast charging doesn’t have to be limited to public stations. We believe this technology can transform the way people think about powering their homes and vehicles—without waiting years for grid upgrades.”
The pilot at Kettering University will help validate the safety, reliability, and performance of OpenRoad’s compact battery system, which can safely store energy and discharge at high speeds, offering not just backup power but a fast, future-ready EV charging experience.
OpenRoad is located in the Wrigley Building
“With this pivot, we’re bringing ultrafast charging to the grid edge,” said Shawn Hickey, Co-founder and COO. “Homes, apartments, and businesses can finally access charging speeds once reserved for expensive, utility-scale installations—at a fraction of the cost and complexity.”
The Michigan grant is part of OpenRoad’s broader strategy to deploy its technology in key pilot sites across California, Michigan, and New York. With engineering and validation underway at Kettering University and headquarters in the historic Wrigley Building on Santa Cruz’s Westside, OpenRoad is proud to be growing at the intersection of two regions deeply committed to climate innovation.
“From California’s entrepreneurial energy and policy leadership to Michigan’s engineering excellence and established national manufacturing and re-industrialization focal point, we’re grateful to be supported by ecosystems that understand both the urgency and the opportunity of the clean energy transition,” said Hickey. “As we move into this next phase of growth, we’re excited to continue building with the investors, partners, and communities who make bold climate solutions possible.”
To learn more about OpenRoad and its mission to bring fast, resilient EV charging to every home, visit https://openroad.eco
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