[FREEPOWER New Energy]
At the beginning of 2025, Ningbo-based FREEPOWER New Energy officially entered into a strategic partnership with TrendPower. The two parties will jointly develop an EV charging operation platform in Vietnam, aiming to accelerate their expansion into the Southeast Asian market.
According to the business manager leading this collaboration, the project is expected to go live in April this year. Leveraging this initiative, FREEPOWER will launch an international franchise and partnership model, utilizing its brand influence to rapidly expand its global market presence.
FREEPOWER is a comprehensive technology enterprise integrating R&D, manufacturing, sales, and installation services. Since its inception, the company has been deeply focused on the new energy EV charging sector, securing more than 20 invention patents across its product portfolio.
Guided by its philosophy of “pursuing excellence and leading through innovation,” FREEPOWER was recognized in 2024 as one of China’s Top 10 Emerging Brands in the EV charging and battery swapping industry. Today, it has rapidly grown into a key player in the electric vehicle charging services market.
It is understood that FREEPOWER’s parent company, FIREX, is a trading company based in the Jiangsu–Zhejiang region specializing in lighting equipment manufacturing. The company has been focused on overseas market development for many years.
Policy and Demand Drive Growth
Southeast Asia Emerges as a Key Gateway for EV Charging Companies Going Global
As global EV adoption continues to accelerate, overseas charging infrastructure is entering a period of rapid growth. With international expansion becoming inevitable, precision market entry is now the key differentiator for EV charging companies.
According to the IEA’s Southeast Asia Energy Outlook 2024, ASEAN—one of the fastest-growing economic regions in the world—has made strong commitments to carbon neutrality. Notably, 8 out of its 10 member countries have already set net-zero emission targets.
Vietnam, often referred to as the “motorcycle capital of the world,” is now undergoing a remarkable energy transformation. As with any major industrial shift, policy plays a leading role. To support the development of a nationwide green mobility system and achieve its net-zero goals, the Vietnamese government plans to invest $14 billion in building a domestic EV charging network.
To accelerate EV infrastructure development, the government offers electricity price subsidies for charging stations and exempts import duties on related equipment and components. In addition, tax incentives—including tax exemptions and reductions—are provided to selected individuals and organizations investing in charging infrastructure.
Furthermore, a concession-based model for EV charging stations has been introduced, giving private investors more predictable and stable revenue streams. This approach is designed to attract international capital and support the sustainable growth of the industry.
Against this backdrop, and to capture the 3–5 year “golden window” in Southeast Asia’s EV charging market, FREEPOWER plans to use Vietnam as its strategic entry point. From there, the company aims to expand into neighboring countries and gradually build a comprehensive charging network across the entire Southeast Asian region, driven by both strong policy support and rising market demand.
Own Brand + Franchise Model
A Winning Strategy for EV Charging Companies Expanding Overseas
A business manager involved in the project shared the following insight:
“Right now, the entire EV charging industry is paying close attention to opportunities in Southeast Asia, but many players struggle due to limited resources and local channels.”
“Especially for small and mid-sized charging companies, relying solely on hardware without building their own brand makes it difficult to establish long-term relationships with local customers. It also limits their ability to attract international distributors or franchise partners. As a result, many companies face rising costs and challenges when expanding into overseas markets.”
For FREEPOWER, which is actively looking to expand into Southeast Asia, building a dedicated, brand-owned overseas EV charging platform is therefore essential.
As a leading provider of customized EV charging software solutions, TrendPower has extensive project experience across more than 20 countries and regions worldwide.
In response to FREEPOWER’s international expansion goals, TrendPower has proposed the following solution:
1. Build a localized EV charging platform tailored for the Vietnamese market
The platform is designed to deeply connect with local EV users, helping FREEPOWER strengthen brand recognition globally while increasing customer retention in Vietnam.
On the technical side, the system fully supports international hardware communication standards, including EU standards, MQTT, and OCPP 1.6/2.0 protocols, ensuring seamless compatibility with a wide range of charging equipment.
The platform also features a multilingual framework, supporting both Vietnamese and English, with flexible language switching to enhance user experience in international markets.
For payments, it integrates Vietnam’s leading local e-wallets such as MoMo and ZaloPay (VND transactions), meeting the needs of local users. In addition, TrendPower has incorporated Stripe (USD payments) into the system, enabling FREEPOWER to support global transactions and accelerate its international business expansion.
2. Build a global franchise and partnership model through the EV charging platform to maximize brand value
By leveraging the platform, FREEPOWER can establish a scalable overseas franchise model, enabling global expansion through strong brand influence.
The platform can be offered to overseas distributors or site operators through flexible models such as subscription (monthly/annual) or one-time licensing. This approach helps distribute costs effectively and significantly reduces the financial burden of international operations.
In addition, TrendPower provides a multi-tier platform architecture with strict data isolation, tailored to different business roles and operational needs. This allows charging operators to maintain full visibility over their operations, gain deeper market insights, and enhance overall management efficiency.
As the global EV charging market gains momentum, more Chinese charging companies are accelerating their expansion into overseas markets. In TrendPower’s view, developing a global mindset and making early strategic preparations are essential to capturing the 3–5 year “golden window” in Southeast Asia.
The opportunity is too significant to ignore. The next game-changer in Southeast Asia’s EV charging market could emerge at any moment—and we will continue to follow FREEPOWER’s journey in the region.
Conclusion
As a leading provider of customized EV charging software solutions, TrendPower delivers comprehensive, end-to-end digital solutions for charging infrastructure. Looking ahead, we are committed to partnering with more outstanding charging operators worldwide, driving innovation together and unlocking new opportunities in the global digital energy market.
EN 
ZH 
AR 
DE 
ES 
KO 
JA 
IT 
FR 
VI 
MS 
ID 
FR_CA 
NL 
SV 
EN_GB 
TH 