Electric vehicle (EV) adoption is accelerating globally, but most multi-unit residential buildings remain ill-equipped for efficient charging. Alchemy Charge, a Sydney-based startup co-founded by Yasemin Selvi, has created a practical, cost-conscious solution that repurposes existing power sockets into smart, metered EV charging points. During a recent conversation with our Co-Founder Karol Kaczmarek, Selvi unpacked the thinking behind their approach, its economic viability, and why Level One charging might just be the sweet spot for shared infrastructure environments.
🎥 Watch the Full Conversation: Get the full context in our conversation with Yasemin Selvi, co-founder of Alchemy Charge. Hear how she and her team are rethinking EV charging in apartment buildings, the inspiration behind SmartPoint, and why low-amp solutions may be the key to scaling access in both Australia and emerging markets.
The idea for Alchemy Charge originated from a personal experience. Selvi’s husband and co-founder, Merich, wanted to charge their EV using a standard garage power outlet. While technically possible, the practice raised questions about power theft in shared spaces such as apartment buildings. With a background in construction and deep experience in Australia's strata housing system, the couple realized the broader implications. What if you could securely monetize ordinary power outlets and avoid the financial and logistical pain of installing dedicated Level Two chargers?
Thus, the SmartPoint was born. Priced at 399 to 499 Australian dollars, depending on connectivity (Wi-Fi or 4G), SmartPoint transforms a typical 10-amp power outlet into a secure and metered EV charger. The device acts like a digital lock, allowing buildings to offer EV charging access without ongoing costs or major infrastructure overhauls.
Installing Level Two chargers (7 to 22 kW) in shared environments can be prohibitively expensive due to electrical capacity limits and required switchboard upgrades. Selvi explained that in dense urban areas of Australia, entire suburbs and buildings often lack the incoming grid capacity to support simultaneous high-speed charging. In one case study, a 293-parking-spot building faced a projected cost of 880,000 AUD for a Level Two backbone installation, excluding per-charger installation costs of 5,000 to 8,000 AUD. In contrast, the SmartPoint solution would require just 170,000 AUD for the same backbone and approximately 1,000 AUD per installed charger.
This drastic cost difference positions SmartPoint as an attractive option for buildings seeking EV readiness without breaking the bank. Its 2.4 kW output is sufficient for overnight charging, covering the average Australian’s daily travel distance of 33.9 km, with 80% of residents traveling less than 40 km per day.
The regulatory landscape is increasingly in Alchemy Charge’s favor. Australia’s revised National Construction Code now includes a requirement for 1.5 kW per hour of overnight charging capacity in new residential buildings. With SmartPoint delivering 2.4 kW, it comfortably exceeds the new minimum standard. Although still in draft form, the regulatory change is already driving increased interest from developers and service engineers involved in the early planning stages of new buildings.
Selvi emphasized that their most effective engagements happen with services engineers, those responsible for designing power, water, and safety systems in new developments. Early inclusion in design specifications ensures efficient layout planning for electrical backbones and parking bay access, streamlining deployment and compliance from day one.
Strata committees in Australia are known for their cautious approach to financial commitments. Alchemy Charge designed its business model around this reality. Instead of subscription fees or strata-funded installations, SmartPoint follows a user-pays model. Residents pay per kilowatt-hour consumed, and the building bears no ongoing costs once the electrical backbone is in place.
This approach solves one of the major frictions in shared living environments: the reluctance to subsidize others’ electricity usage. Selvi shared the example of a Melbourne resident who had spent four years trying to gain approval for an EV charger. After discovering SmartPoint, the building approved his request within three weeks. He now saves 50% on charging costs and avoids two hours per week previously spent using public infrastructure. The convenience of charging at home, coupled with high utilization of a private parking spot, makes SmartPoint a compelling option for both residents and committees.
Although SmartPoint provides detailed energy usage data to building managers, interest in advanced analytics is currently limited. Selvi believes this will evolve as EV adoption grows. For now, most property managers are primarily concerned with accurate reimbursement for power consumed.
Solar integration in apartment buildings remains complex. Unlike single-family homes that can directly pair rooftop solar with EV charging during the day, apartment blocks often lack sufficient daytime power demand to utilize generated solar effectively. In fact, Selvi pointed out that some states in Australia now penalize excess solar exports due to grid oversupply. Until battery storage becomes more widespread, apartment buildings are unlikely to realize the full potential of solar-plus-EV solutions.
That said, Alchemy Charge is closely watching developments in vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid technologies. Selvi sees them as viable within five years for single-family homes, but much more complex for multi-unit dwellings due to infrastructure and governance challenges.
Though originally designed for strata settings, SmartPoint is seeing significant uptake in unexpected sectors. Airbnb hosts, marinas, and caravan parks are embracing the system’s low upfront cost and pay-per-use model. Its built-in safety mechanisms and compact form factor make it ideal for temporary accommodation and mixed-use spaces.
One particularly promising market is Southeast Asia, where Alchemy Charge is helping build EV charging networks for two- and three-wheeled vehicles. In countries like Indonesia, where scooter electrification programs are underway, access to secure, low-speed charging is critical. In Bali, for example, a government initiative offers financial incentives to convert petrol scooters into electric ones, but the lack of reliable charging infrastructure limits adoption. Alchemy Charge’s plug-and-play solution offers a practical path forward, especially for commuters who must charge both at home and work.
While the user-pays model is standard in residential settings, Alchemy Charge also supports fleet applications. For companies with drivers who take EVs home, SmartPoint enables metering and reimbursement of home electricity use, which is an essential capability for tracking fleet operating costs. In these scenarios, the company charges a flat monthly reporting fee instead of a per-kWh rate.
The company’s hardware is designed with global expansion in mind. The embedded chip is UL-certified for Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and the United States, and the backend software complies with international privacy regulations. Alchemy Charge is now working on adapting its hardware to accommodate socket standards like Europe’s Schuko plug, with a strict policy against adapters to preserve safety features such as heat sensors.
Selvi concluded the conversation by offering a powerful analogy: charging your EV should be like charging your smartphone. “You don’t wait until it’s empty. You charge it when you can, at home, at work, even during a coffee break,” she said. The SmartPoint supports this “always be charging” philosophy, reinforcing that convenience, not speed, is the key to effective EV infrastructure.
With SmartPoint, Alchemy Charge is proving that slow and steady may indeed win the race, especially in dense urban environments where scalability, cost, and simplicity are paramount.