Australian companies Evie Networks, TCRT pick Arizona for North American HQs
Electric vehicle charging company Evie Networks and TCRT, a fire retardant ballistic rubber manufacturer, are expanding from Australia to North America and establishing headquarters in the Valley.
Evie Networks plans to build electric vehicle charging stations in Arizona that will be “strategically located in places where customers work, live and play,” according to a company announcement. Evie Networks expects to have its initial EV charging sites up and running within 18 months, according to the Arizona Commerce Authority.
“By expanding our operations in the United States, Evie Networks aims to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and improve the sustainability of the transportation sector in the U.S.,’’ Chris Mills, managing director of Evie Networks, said in a statement.
Evie Networks, founded in 2017, has more than 350 sites in varying stages of development in Australia. The company said it plans to replicate its Australian EV charging model in the U.S. and its open-access format allows other EV charging owners to join its network.
Evie Networks was not immediately available for comment. The ACA said that the exact location for the company’s facility in the Valley was still being finalized.
TCRT opens manufacturing facility in Tempe
TCRT leased space at 1320 W. Auto Drive in Tempe for its manufacturing facility where it will produce ballistic target systems and panels as well as acoustic tiles.
TCRT supplies rubber to the U.S. Army, the Australian Army and law enforcement agencies, among other clients.
TCRT’s new headquarters will house sales, marketing and operations teams. Although the company expects to “see sizable growth in the next 6-12 months,” it currently doesn’t have official job growth projections to provide, Curt Staubach, director of marketing at TCRT, said in an email to the Business Journal.
“Evie Networks and TCRT’s new headquarters showcase Arizona’s international attractiveness,” Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, said in a statement. “We are proud to welcome these sustainable leaders to Arizona as part of our thriving electric vehicle and manufacturing industries.”
The U.S. expansion for both companies was backed by Brisbane, Australia-based St. Baker Energy Innovation Fund, which invests in early-stage growth companies with solutions in the energy and e-mobility sectors, according to the venture capital firm’s website.
“We are excited to see innovative Australian companies like TCRT and Evie Networks providing jobs on the other side of the globe,’’ Chris Hay, managing partner of St. Baker Energy Innovation Fund, said in a statement. “Their arrival in Phoenix represents not only an investment in the local economy but also a significant step forward in the global movement towards sustainable energy practices.’’
Evie Networks and TCRT are among a group of other companies that have announced plans to establish a presence in the Valley.
Just this week, aircraft parts and components provider Unical Aviation Inc. relocated its corporate global headquarters from Los Angeles to the Phoenix metro area and is planning to hire 80 employees.
Hawthorne Renewables — a spinoff from a merger between Ireland-based Power Capital Energy Group and Sulus Solar of Portland — is planning to open its headquarters this month in the Biltmore area.
In addition, the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Electric Vehicle Group, in partnership with nonprofit 1 Life Organization and Phoenix-based Integro Bank, will host a Business and Tech Development Leadership Summit on Aug. 18 to formally launch the electric vehicle company and introduce the concept for its model NR1 car to the public.
The Phoenix area is among sites the electric vehicle company is considering for its new headquarters.