Her dream is now a reality!

Natalie King is making history as the founder and trailblazer behind the first Black woman-owned electric vehicle (EV) charger company in the United States, according to Forbes. A former attorney, King shifted gears from law to renewable energy in 2007, driven by a passion to make an environmental impact. She initially co-founded a solar energy firm with her then-husband, but when the marriage ended, so did the company. “When the marriage dissolved, we dissolved the company,” she explained. However, the setback didn’t stop her. By 2012, King launched Dunamis Clean Energy Partners, determined to carve her own path in the clean-energy industry (Startup Zoo).

At first, Dunamis focused on energy auditing, serving as a trade ally for utility companies and helping clients secure energy incentives. During these projects, King observed that many businesses were switching to LED lighting. Spotting an opportunity, she began importing LEDs from manufacturers in China and secured several large contracts with Michigan medical facilities. When one of the suppliers failed to deliver, she was crushed. “I was devastated,” King recalled.

Instead of quitting, she took a mentor’s advice to start producing LEDs herself. That led to the founding of Dunamis Lighting in 2015. The business thrived and became a respected name in Michigan’s green technology sector (Because of Them We Can). Yet, King’s ambitions didn’t stop there.

In 2018, after what she described as a divinely inspired dream, she decided to move into electric vehicle charging technology. “I woke up from an after-church nap, and there was a clear direction of what to do next — electric vehicle recharging manufacturing,” King told Forbes. That vision gave birth to Dunamis Charge.

By late 2019, King had assembled a team of engineers and launched the research and development process for EV chargers. Today, her products are entering the final stages of certification and are poised to enter the national market (Afrotech).

The Dunamis Charge lineup includes three innovative models:

• DC Fast Charger – capable of charging a vehicle in about 30 minutes and featuring a built-in smart screen for advertising.

• Residential Charger – a wall-mounted unit designed for home garages that can fully charge a vehicle within four to six hours.

• Commercial Charger – suited for parking structures, workplaces, and public spaces.

King is actively marketing these devices to utilities, municipalities, and major automotive companies. The Michigan Department of Transportation and Environmental Great Lakes Energy have already expressed support, and the company is in discussions with General Motors to become a preferred vendor for its dealership network (Afrotech).

Looking toward the future, King plans to open her first manufacturing facility in Detroit, set to begin operations in November. The plant will start with approximately 30 assembly workers and technicians, with workforce numbers expected to double within a year and quadruple by 2025. She sees this not only as a business expansion but as a mission to create opportunities for underrepresented communities (People of Color in Tech).

“It means a great deal to me to be the first Black woman-owned EV charger manufacturer in the country,” King said. “I hope there are many more to come. I want to make sure communities of color are not marginalized or left out of this opportunity and the multiple benefits this industry brings.”

Her decision to open the factory in Detroit was intentional. “That’s why I made it a point to make sure that assembly plant was located in the city of Detroit,” she explained. “I wanted to create jobs, teach this technology, and help families in underrepresented communities thrive. It’s very important to me.”

King’s business impact goes far beyond manufacturing. Startup Zoo reports that Dunamis has become a multimillion-dollar, minority- and woman-owned enterprise with over 150 employees. She has also co-founded Blacks in Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (BEVI), a professional organization dedicated to ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion in the rapidly growing EV supply chain.

Through perseverance, innovation, and purpose, Natalie King has built more than a company — she has built a movement. Her journey from attorney to clean-energy leader demonstrates what’s possible when vision meets resilience. And as the electric vehicle industry continues to expand, King’s work ensures that sustainability, representation, and opportunity grow right along with it.