Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1534934
HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | MAY 5, 2025 17 building as many charging stations as possible," Mannino said. "And you know, I think it seems like we don't even have enough to support the ones that are on the road now." Turnkey offerings Mannino previously worked for the California-based EV infra- structure company ChargePoint when it was still a small company with just a handful of employees. Now it's traded on the New York Stock Exchange. He learned from his experience there that an EV-charging company must provide wraparound services, including sales, installation and service. "We realized that supplying chargers was not enough," Mannino said. "You need to do turnkey. So, we expanded into our own network of installers to give customers a full turnkey project." Verdek doesn't manufacture EV chargers. It buys products from various suppliers and assembles them. Because there are so many compa- nies manufacturing EV-charging components, Verdek focuses on providing services for its customers, who are the end-users of its products. "In a way, we are hardware-ag- nostic," Mannino said. "So, we try to give the customer the best fit for whatever they need. And some products are better for some things, and some for other things." Coming full-circle Mannino recalls his first electric vehicle was similar to a golf cart. The battery had a range of about 20 miles, and it recharged using common, 120-volt residential outlets. Whenever he drove, he carried a long extension cord with him, so if he ran out of juice, he could plug his car into a willing neighbor's home. EV technology has improved significantly since then — currently, batteries have ranges of 100 miles to more than 300 miles and can be fully charged within minutes. Even still, consumers have not adopted electric vehicles as quickly as Mannino expected, he said. That's led to slower-than-expected growth. The EV industry faces other challenges, including political oppo- sition to legal mandates aimed at spurring electric-vehicle adoption. Last year, for example, Gov. Ned Lamont scrapped a plan to phase out all new sales of internal combustion engine vehicles in Connecticut by 2035, after facing a backlash. Mannino said he remains opti- mistic about the long-term future of his business. The factors that will fuel future EV demand — including environmental concerns, improved battery technology and growing affordability — remain, he said. He pointed out that delivery companies like Amazon and FedEx are converting to electric vehicles, as are public bus systems. Also, newly built multifamily residences almost always offer electric chargers. "If you have an electric vehicle, and if you're looking for a place to stay, you're going to look for a place where you can charge a car, so it becomes not an amenity but a necessity," Mannino said. Verdek's EV Oasis off-grid solar charging stations are used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to power the agency's electric vehicle fleet along the southern border. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO