Charging Up: Reimagining Branded Charging Networks with MN8

In today’s EV landscape, the way charging networks are financed, operated, and branded is still tilted toward a handful of charge-point operators (CPOs). These incumbent players build, own, and control the experience end-to-end — from pricing and branding to data and loyalty programs. But for enterprise customers like retailers, fueling-station operators, and automotive OEMs, that model often falls short. 

These businesses see EV charging as a powerful extension of their brand — a way to attract customers, strengthen loyalty, and deliver the same premium experience that drivers already expect from them. Yet the current market offers them only two imperfect choices: 

1. Do it yourself — fund, develop, and operate an entire network in-house, or 

2. Let a CPO do it for you — but lose control over the brand, customer experience, data, and most of the revenue. 

At MN8, we believe there’s a better way. 

The Gap Between Brand and Infrastructure 

If you’re an automaker, reliable charging can be as important as the vehicles themselves. A poor first charging session experience (i.e., when borrowing or renting an EV) can deter potential buyers; industry data still shows that a driver’s first attempt to use a public charger succeeds only about 70% of the time.. Yet building a branded nationwide network is capital-intensive and operationally complex — requiring expertise in site acquisition, utility coordination, and 24/7 operations that few OEMs have in-house. 

If you’re a retailer or fueling-station operator, the value proposition is also clear. EV charging brings more customers to your locations, increases dwell time, and strengthens your sustainability credentials. But under the traditional CPO model, the upside is limited — often a few hundred dollars per parking space per month. Meanwhile, you surrender control of the pricing, branding, and customer data that define your business. 

White-Labeled Charging Networks: A New Model 

MN8’s white-labeled charging solution offers a third way. It allows companies to own the customer experience and extend their brand into electrification—without having to build the expertise or raise the capital to do it themselves. 

Here’s how it works: 

• Your brand, our infrastructure: MN8 designs, finances, builds, owns, and operates the charging network under your brand. From the charger wraps to the app interface, the network looks and feels entirely yours. 

• No upfront capex: You pay a predictable subscription-style fee. MN8 covers all capital and operating costs, turning infrastructure into a service. 

• You control the driver experience: You set pricing, loyalty integration, and user engagement strategy. MN8 ensures uptime, maintenance, and reliability behind the scenes. 

• Flexible commercial structures: Whether it’s a fixed-fee Charging-as-a-Service model or a utilization-based profit-share, the structure adapts to your priorities — not the other way around. 

• Scalable, data-rich operations: Our network operations center and integrated software platform provide real-time data, performance analytics, and quarterly business reviews — giving you the same visibility as if you owned the network yourself. 

Built on Experience — Proven at Scale 

This isn’t a theory, MN8 has already shown what this looks like at scale. Our joint venture with Mercedes-Benz is building one of the most ambitious luxury-branded charging networks in North America. 

That partnership demonstrates what’s possible when a best-in-class brand combines with MN8’s development, financing, and operations expertise: a network that feels wholly native to the brand while being delivered turnkey by an energy company built for scale. 

Unlocking Value for Property Owners and Brands 

White-labeled charging networks bridge the gap between doing it yourself and outsourcing entirely. They enable: 

• Retailers and site hosts to turn parking lots into brand-aligned revenue centers. 

• Automotive OEMs to deploy high-reliability branded networks that support sales targets and customer satisfaction. 

• Fueling-station operators to extend their energy brand into the electric era without the burden of building an internal development arm. 

And for those looking to share risk or test new markets, MN8 also offers utilization backstop with profit-share structures — allowing customers to capture upside from charging activity without fixed payment obligations. 

The MN8 Advantage 

MN8 Energy stands apart as a customer-aligned infrastructure owner and operator. With over 900 renewable and EV infrastructure projects under management, we bring deep expertise across solar, battery storage, and EV charging. Our turnkey model includes: 

• Site selection and acquisition based on market demand and power availability, 

• End-to-end project delivery from permitting to energization, 

• 24/7 network operations through our Remote Operations Center, and 

• Ongoing optimization via performance analytics and LCFS credit monetization. 

Driving the Future — Together 

Electrification is transforming how brands engage customers, just as the internet once did. A branded charging experience is more than infrastructure — it’s an extension of your promise to customers. 

With MN8’s white-labeled charging networks, you can focus on what you do best — building great vehicles, creating great retail experiences, or serving great coffee — while we handle everything it takes to power them. 

MN8 builds the network. You own the brand. 

Let’s talk about how to make it yours. Connect with the team to learn more at DES@mn8.com.