Southeast Asian tech giant Grab has made a strategic investment in Vietnam-based electric vehicle charging platform EBOOST, deepening an existing partnership as it seeks to accelerate electric vehicle adoption among its driver-partners.
Financial details of the investment were not disclosed.
The deal follows a memorandum of understanding signed by Grab and EBOOST in November 2025. At that time, EBOOST operated more than 2,500 charging points serving over 10,000 electric vehicle users across Vietnam.
The initial partnership gave Grab driver-partners access to EBOOST’s charging network, with the companies seeking to lower operating costs and address one of the key barriers to EV adoption in the country.
EBOOST said the investment would strengthen its financial capacity and help accelerate the rollout of additional charging points across Vietnam.
Since April 2026, EBOOST’s network has also been integrated into the EV Charging feature of the Grab Driver app, allowing GrabCar driver-partners to locate charging stations, start charging sessions and make payments through the platform.
Hundreds of charging points have so far been connected to the feature, according to EBOOST. The company said more than 70% of participating driver-partners continued using the service within seven days of their first transaction.
The companies are now working to integrate thousands of charging points for electric motorbike driver-partners.
The investment comes as Grab steps up efforts to move more of its driver base towards electric vehicles, amid high fuel prices and continued concerns over charging availability and the upfront cost of purchasing an EV.
Grab president and chief operating officer Alex Hungate told DealStreetAsia in April that elevated petrol prices had created a “unique window” for the company to encourage drivers to make the transition.
“We’ve always tried to be a catalyst for the transition to EVs, because they’re cleaner and better for the environment. But of course, there are issues around charging infrastructure, issues around the higher capital upfront cost,” Hungate said at the time.
Grab’s low- and zero-emission transport accounted for 7% of the total distance travelled on Grab’s platform in 2024, up from 6.3% a year earlier, according to the company’s latest annual ESG report. Grab is targeting carbon neutrality by 2040.
Hungate previously said the company’s EV strategy was focused on three areas: working with governments to expand charging infrastructure, using its fintech and banking capabilities to finance vehicles for drivers, and deploying artificial intelligence to help drivers identify the least costly times to recharge.
The EBOOST partnership addresses the infrastructure and driver-downtime components of that strategy in Vietnam. By integrating charging directly into the Grab Driver app, the company is seeking to reduce the time drivers spend locating and paying for charging, while improving utilisation across EBOOST’s network.
EBOOST operates a proprietary charging platform designed to support electric cars, trucks, buses and motorbikes. The company said the partnership would provide access to a larger base of EV users and generate more recurring demand across its charging stations.
