A newly launched Cincinnati startup is making its mark on one of the city's most recognizable venues: Findlay Market.
On Friday, Electrada installed two new electric vehicle charging stations at the popular destination, officials announced in a news release. Electrada will own and operate the stations, which will cost the market nothing to have onsite.
The Findlay Market charging stations are Electrada's first public project since its April launch.
Ultimately, the startup's goal is to boost the accessibility and reliability of electric vehicle charging stations throughout Cincinnati and the Midwest, according to its website. It's led by Kevin Kushman, the former president of downtown-based Integral Analytics.
"The electric vehicle market is growing rapidly, but we know it can only grow as quickly as the charging infrastructure network that grows along with it," Kushman said in a statement. "Our research has shown an incredible appetite among businesses, government leaders, building owners and drivers for a more robust charging ecosystem that supports EVs. It’s our mission to build it."
In a statement, Mark Policinski, CEO of the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana (OKI) Regional Council of Governments, called Electrada the "type of innovator Cincinnati needs right now" and praised its ability to help deliver sustainable transportation throughout the region.
Electrada also has already attracted the attention of some influential backers from Cincinnati's business community.
In May, the company announced Dan Neyer, president and CEO of Neyer Properties, and William C. “Wym” Portman III, director of Pon North America and recent chair of the University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees, had joined its board of directors.
