Rangeway Energy - Field Notes #2
Hi Rangeway Community!
What a week!
Since Bill Pierce's article on EVInfo.net dropped, my calendar has been a beautiful chaos of conversations with people who get it—who understand that EV charging along scenic routes shouldn't feel like a compromise.
I am 100% here for it!
The Dignity Deficit
This morning (9/19), I published a piece on the Sequoia Mobility blog that dives a bit deeper into the ethos of Rangeway Energy: The Dignity Deficit: Why EV Charging Needs a Hospitality Revolution.
Here's the uncomfortable truth: Every gas station—even the grimiest truck stop—offers basic human dignity. Restrooms. Coffee. Shelter from weather.
But somehow, with EV infrastructure representing the future of transportation, we've gone backwards.
The response has been overwhelming.
Dozens of people have reached out, sharing their own stories of charging in parking lots during rainstorms, of kids asking "how much longer?" without anywhere comfortable to wait, of choosing gas cars for road trips simply because the charging experience feels so undignified.
We're not just building charging infrastructure. We're determining what American road trip culture looks like for the next 50 years.
The Conversations That Matter
This week alone, we've had deep discussions with some of the most innovative companies in the EV charging space. While NDAs keep me from sharing names (for now), I can tell you this: the response from both hardware and software leaders has been astronomical.
Not polite interest. Not cautious optimism. Genuine excitement.
Beyond the Charging Revenue
Here's what's becoming clear as we dive deeper into our financial models, with an incredible consultant who joined our journey this week: the charging revenue is just the beginning.
When you create destinations worth stopping at, not just utilitarian charging points, the business model transforms.
Tourism partnerships. Local business collaborations. Branded experiences. Premium memberships. The revenue streams multiply when you stop thinking like a utility and start thinking like a hospitality company.
This isn't theoretical. The numbers are starting to tell a compelling story.
Concept image of a Rangeway Trailhead in the Mojave Desert
The Pitch Takes Shape
We're putting the finishing touches on our pitch deck, and it's fascinating to see how our vision crystallizes with each iteration.
What started as "premium charging along Highway 1" has evolved into something bigger: a new category of infrastructure that makes electric road trips better than their gas-powered predecessors.
Not just cleaner. Better.
What's Next
The coming weeks promise to be pivotal.
- We're on the verge of signing our first partnership agreements, the kind that transform a vision into a movement.
- We're also deep in our journey seeking investment teams who understand that the future of EV charging isn't just about coverage; it's about experience.
The Challenge Worth Solving
Of course, building something new comes with challenges.
Right now, our biggest one is finding the right people, those rare individuals who can see what we see and have the skills to help build it.
If you know someone who dreams in kilowatts but thinks in hospitality, send them our way.
Why This Journey Matters
After a week of non-stop conversations, one thing is crystal clear: people don't just want better charging infrastructure along America's scenic highways.
They're hungry for it.
Every story shared, every head nodding in recognition, every "finally!" we hear reinforces the same truth: the journey should be as memorable as the destination.
Right now, for EV drivers, it isn't.
We're going to change that.
Join the Journey
Know someone who should be part of this conversation? Forward this newsletter, or have them reach out to us.
Also, if you haven't yet, read "The Dignity Deficit" and share it with anyone who cares about the future of American road trips.
The more voices in this community, the stronger our signal to the world: scenic routes deserve better.
Here's to the road ahead!
Zak Winnick
Founder & CEO, Rangeway Energy
Follow Our Progress: LinkedIn | Website
Building the charging network America's scenic routes deserve.