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In the press

Press & Media Inquiries: media@ridealto.com

January 14, 2025
L-Charge Powers EV Rideshare Alto With Energy To-Go

It’s tough to keep a battery-electric rideshare vehicle on the road and making money if there’s no power available to keep the cars charged. But that problem is being solved for one company through a partnership with a tech startup that’s literally hauling juice to power-thirsty rideshare EVs.

To accelerate its transition from internal combustion engine cars to battery-powered vehicles, rideshare platform Alto has partnered with charge-as- a- service company L-Charge.

The Dallas, Texas-based company provides off-grid power through units transported on trailers requiring only a 30-foot 8.5 foot parking space. The units are energized mainly by natural gas—real and synthetic, according to L-Charge CEO Dmitri Lashin.

Each single 180kW charger is equipped with two charging guns. The system can be configured to enable both guns to provide 90kW simultaneously, or for one gun to dispense ultra-fast 180kW charging.

The goal, said Lashin, is to bring power where it’s needed quickly and inexpensively when a customer cannot afford to build a permanent recharging infrastructure right away, or wait for one to be built by a municipality—a growing issue.

“It's not only the U.S. or Europe, it's everywhere,” said Lashin, in an interview. “The grid is not ready to maintain the electric vehicles.”

For Alto, the urgency to keep its EV rideshare fleet is acute, just as the company is transitioning to battery-powered vehicles—currently 350 EVs at its locations in Dallas and Houston, Texas and Los Angeles. Alto operates in six cities overall.

January 24, 2024
Alto Review: Why This Rideshare App Might Replace Uber on Your Next Trip

Are you tired of traveling in beat-up cars when you order a rideshare? Do you wish you could have a silent ride without feeling rude? Download Alto next time you need a ride to the airport—this under-the-radar company offers an elevated rideshare experience with a fleet of luxurious SUVs and a fully customizable journey where you control the music, temperature, and conversation.

Alto is a rideshare company that operates on a completely different model from Lyft and Uber. Instead of using independent contractors who drive their own cars, Alto hires highly vetted and trained drivers and gives them a company car for the night. 

Alto drivers are paid per shift instead of per fare, and tipping is not necessary. (There’s no tipping option in the Alto app, but riders could offer a cash tip if they feel inclined.)

Since Alto has its own vehicle fleet, you know you’ll be picked up in a clean and well-maintained Buick Enclave on every ride. The white SUVs are all branded with the Alto logo, and drivers wear Alto gear, so you can feel confident you’re getting in the right vehicle (of course, you should still double-check the license plate.)

The experience is similar to having a private chauffeur—Alto drivers will open car doors, offer water to passengers, and don’t mind waiting or making an extra stop since they’re being paid by the hour and not the mile. 

The clean SUVs are outfitted with car chargers at every seat. Passengers can use the Alto app to choose the music and volume for their ride and can turn on “do not disturb” mode to opt out of conversations.

After an Alto driver completes a ride, he or she will head to a designated waiting area until they are assigned a new pickup. Wait times for on-demand rides with Alto are typically around 10-15 minutes. However, if you don’t want to wait, you can preschedule a ride ahead of time.