Zeekr has partnered with Minima to launch a peer-to-peer EV charging solution across Europe. The collaboration aims to transform idle home wallboxes into bookable public charging stations. The solution leverages blockchain technology to tackle one of the EV sector’s most pressing bottlenecks: charging access.
The initiative, announced Tuesday, will see Minima’s decentralized, device-agnostic Layer 1 blockchain integrated directly into Zeekr’s wallbox charging hardware. The goal is to create a user-controlled, flexible network of charging points that can be monetized, scheduled, and accessed through a secure, blockchain-verified system—even when internet connectivity fails.
Zeekr Technology Europe is a subsidiary of China’s Geely Automobile Holdings.
A Decentralized Answer to a Centralized Problem
The lack of reliable EV charging infrastructure has remained one of the major deterrents to EV adoption globally. A recent Shell report found that nearly half (49%) of would-be EV owners cited limited charger availability as a barrier to making the switch. While governments and utilities are scrambling to build out networks, the scale of required investment is staggering.
According to another study by the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), public and private investment between $53 billion and $127 billion will be needed by 2030 to prepare America’s grid and charging infrastructure for widespread EV adoption—with $38 billion to $81 billion earmarked for public EV charging stations alone.
Europe faces a similarly daunting challenge. Despite having more EVs on the road than any other region, the buildout of public infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with demand.
Peer-to-peer, decentralized solutions like the one proposed by Zeekr and Minima could offer a faster, more scalable way to close the infrastructure gap, particularly in residential and semi-urban areas where public investment may be slower to arrive.
Minima believes that decentralized technology offers the flexibility and scalability needed to accelerate EV adoption.
“With Zeekr, we’re demonstrating how a community-first, blockchain-powered solution can meet real-world infrastructure needs—efficiently, securely, and sustainably,” Minima CEO, Hugo Feiler, said in a press release shared with AlexaBlockchain.
Zeekr Turning Idle Wallboxes into Revenue-Generating Assets
Zeekr owners who install wallboxes at home will now have the option to make their chargers available to others in the community, turning what was once idle hardware into a revenue-generating asset. Through a booking system, EV drivers will be able to locate, reserve, and pay for charging sessions at these private wallboxes using Minima’s decentralized platform.
Each booking triggers the creation of a secure digital access token on Minima’s blockchain, which grants the authorized driver permission to initiate charging. The token includes verification of the user’s identity, access time window, and even the energy allotment (kWh). Importantly, this system operates entirely on-device, without reliance on centralized servers, thanks to Minima’s unique architecture that allows full blockchain nodes to run on mobile phones and embedded hardware.
One of the standout features is the system’s ability to function offline. In the event of a connectivity issue—such as poor mobile signal or Wi-Fi outage—local connections like Bluetooth can still validate tokens and allow drivers to charge. It’s a design choice aimed at maximizing reliability in real-world conditions, where EV users can’t afford to be stranded due to network issues.
Why Blockchain—and Why Now?
While blockchain has often been linked with cryptocurrencies and speculative tech, its application in energy and transportation is beginning to gain traction—especially in decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePINs), where trustless interactions between hardware and users are critical.
Minima, a blockchain project with over 50,000 global node operators, is positioning itself as a backbone for such applications. Its lightweight, quantum-resistant network allows any device—including EV wallboxes—to run a fully validating node, opening up real-time interaction, messaging, and tokenized exchange of value between devices without third-party intermediaries.
This approach aligns with growing industry interest in Web3-powered DePIN models that combine physical infrastructure with digital ownership and control. Projects like Helium in wireless networking and Hivemapper in mapping services have shown the viability of crowdsourced infrastructure supported by blockchain economics. Zeekr and Minima are now applying that same principle to EV charging.
Zeekr’s Broader Strategy in Europe
For Zeekr, the partnership with Minima is part of a larger strategy to make a splash in the European premium EV market. The brand launched in Europe in 2023 and has been steadily expanding its footprint with models like the Zeekr 001 and Zeekr X—vehicles that compete with Tesla’s Model Y and the Audi Q4 e-tron in performance and luxury.
Backed by Geely, which also owns Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus, Zeekr has access to some of the industry’s most advanced research and development resources. Its cars are built on Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform, which is designed for software-defined, connected EVs—a perfect match for integrations like blockchain-enabled charging.
This move also comes as other automakers, including Tesla, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, explore similar ecosystem expansions into charging infrastructure and energy services. However, Zeekr’s decentralized, community-driven model represents a sharp departure from the centralized charging networks typically owned and operated by carmakers or utilities.
Governments across Europe have historically favored standardized, centralized approaches to infrastructure. Peer-to-peer energy and mobility services often face hurdles around licensing, taxation, and consumer protection.
Still, the Minima-Zeekr model sidesteps some of these challenges by operating as a digital coordination and access layer rather than an energy provider per se. The platform doesn’t own or operate the chargers—it merely enables safe, secure transactions between consenting parties. This distinction could help the model grow in a decentralized fashion without running afoul of utility regulations.
As EV adoption continues to rise, the need for flexible, resilient charging solutions will only grow. And if decentralized infrastructure can deliver on its promise, it may help power not just EVs—but an entirely new era of energy access.
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Image Credits: Zeekr