SmartTO Client Impact Stories highlight how Ontario-based innovators are advancing smart mobility and related sectors with support from SmartTO, the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) ecosystem, as well as our valued partners at Centennial College and YSpace. Each story showcases the venture’s journey, key challenges, measurable progress, including Technology Readiness Level (TRL) growth and the role SmartTO and its partners played in accelerating their path to commercialization.
About Kiwi Charge
Kiwi Charge, founded by Abdel Ali, is a Toronto-based startup tackling one of the biggest barriers to electric vehicle (EV) adoption: reliable charging access for people who live in multi-residential and urban settings. Kiwi Charge is developing an autonomous mobile charging robot that can deliver power to EVs where they are parked, bridging the gap between mobility and real estate.
By combining robotics, automation, and smart infrastructure, Kiwi Charge is reimagining how cities and developers can support EV adoption without the high costs and complexity of retrofitting buildings with charging stations. The solution offers flexibility for property managers, scalability for municipalities, and convenience for EV drivers. Already, Kiwi Charge’s technology has demonstrated measurable sustainability outcomes, eliminating 4.2 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, enabling over 16,800 km of EV travel, delivering more than 3,000 kWh of clean energy across 200+ charging sessions, and contributing to five UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The result is a pathway to accelerate EV adoption, reduce infrastructure bottlenecks, and make sustainable mobility accessible to more communities.
SmartTO Programs Engaged
Smart Mobility Tech Accelerator (SMTA)
Applied Technical Project (ATP)
Innovation Challenge
The Challenge
While the vision for an autonomous charging robot was compelling, Abdel and his team faced steep technical hurdles in developing their MVP. Winterization, electrification, and validation of autonomous components all required significant R&D and funding.
At the same time, Kiwi Charge needed to prove real-world demand and demonstrate credibility to property developers, municipalities, and industry partners. Without validation and strong partnerships, the company risked stalling at the prototype stage instead of moving toward scalable adoption.
SmartTO Support
Kiwi Charge joined SmartTO’s SMTA program, delivered in partnership with YSpace, as part of its inagural cohort. The accelerator gave the team the resources and mentorship to move their autonomous charging robot from concept to market-ready MVP, while helping them refine their strategy in the mobility and real estate space.
Kiwi Charge also participated in SmartTO's Applied Technical Project (ATP) program with Centennial College. This project addressed some of the most pressing technical challenges facing the robot, including:
- Winterproofing and winterization of the platform to ensure year-round performance.
- Development of key electrical and motorized components, critical for powering and maneuvering the robot autonomously.
Centennial not only provided engineering expertise but also helped secure a 75% grant top-up that amplified SmartTO’s initial support, enabling Kiwi Charge to accelerate development and overcome hurdles much faster than they could have alone.
SmartTO also gave Kiwi Charge a platform to showcase its progress at the SmartTO Demo Day, where Abdel and his team won first place and $5,000 in cash. The prize package also included strategic brand and communications support from Moon Rabbit Strategy, new mentorship opportunities, and introductions to ecosystem partners like Megalab Group, connections that continue to support Kiwi Charge’s growth.
Beyond SmartTO, Kiwi has also benefited from the broader innovation ecosystem, working with RTDS partners including the Centre for Integrated Transportation and Mobility (CITM), OVIN Demonstration Zone, Windsor-Essex RTDS, ventureLAB, Communitech, and Durham Region RTDS as well as the Technology Accelerator program at YSpace and the Investment Bootcamp program with the Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA). These programs and collaborations have expanded visibility, provided testing opportunities, and accelerated Kiwi’s path toward commercialization.
Before joining SmartTO, Kiwi Charge’s technology was at TRL 3–4. By the end of the program, it had advanced to TRL 6, marking a significant step toward market readiness.
"SmartTO wasn’t just a program, it was a turning point. They helped us validate critical technology, connected us with Centennial College, and gave us the ecosystem support to de-risk our robot. That acceleration was exactly what Kiwi Charge needed to move from concept to a working MVP.”
Abdel Ali, Founder & CEO, Kiwi Charge
Key Support Areas
Funding & Resources
The ATP project and SMTA program support accelerated Kiwi Charge’s MVP development. Through SmartTO’s connections, the team deepened ties with OVIN, which helped secure a $500,000 grant and a $1.7 million pilot projectwith a Top 3 global automaker, Pfaff Group, and OVIN. These collaborations provided the critical resources and industry partnerships needed to advance Kiwi Charge’s autonomous charging platform from prototype to market-ready solution. Together, they demonstrate how coordinated ecosystem support, from SmartTO to OVIN, can accelerate commercialization and position Ontario startups for global impact.
Pilots with Municipalities
With SmartTO’s visibility and ecosystem connections, Kiwi Charge secured successful pilots with the City of Markham and the City of Vaughan, giving the company real-world validation in municipal environments.
Developer Partnerships
Kiwi Charge launched a paid pilot with Tridel and began exploratory discussions with Mattamy, Brookfield, and Honeycomb. These partnerships opened the door to proving the robot’s value in multi-residential developments.
Visibility & Ecosystem Growth
By winning SmartTO Demo Day, Kiwi Charge not only secured funding but also gained valuable support from mentors, advisors, and sponsors. Strategic guidance from Moon Rabbit Strategy and connections with potential partners like Megalab Group have strengthened the company’s positioning as it prepares to scale.
Looking Ahead
With SmartTO’s support, Kiwi Charge transformed from a promising concept into a validated mobility solution ready for adoption by municipalities and developers. The next step is scaling pilots across cities and multi-residential developments, bringing autonomous EV charging to urban communities.
Today, Kiwi Charge’s momentum continues to build, with a growing team of 12 innovators, 140 buildings on its waitlist, and paid pilots with leading developers like Tridel. The company has also filed its first patent, with two additional filings in progress, marking important milestones in securing its intellectual property.
With strong market traction, strategic pilots, and measurable environmental impact, Kiwi Charge is poised to expand across Canada and beyond, continuing its mission to make EV charging accessible, flexible, and sustainable for all.