#55: Blink partners with Presto

Blink-Presto partner, Congress must act in September, Tell us what we should build next

Author

Steve Taylor
August 30, 2025

The Business and Policy of Charging Infrastructure

The 3 big stories

  • Blink Charging and Presto simplify fleet fast‑charging

  • Trump tries to wrest spending power from Congress as government shutdown looms

  • Vote for what you want us to build next (one-question survey below)

Plus, featured jobs and news,
Steve

Industry News

Blink Charging has partnered with fleet software provider Presto giving corporate and delivery fleets direct access to Blink's nationwide fast-charging network.

The integration allows fleet drivers to locate Blink stations, check real-time availability, initiate charging sessions, and complete payment all within Presto's app.

Rather than forcing fleets to manage multiple apps and payment systems, the partnership simplifies the entire charging experience.

Presto already serves major fleet customers including Uber, Avis, Hertz, and Zipcar, which will give Blink immediate access to predictable, high-volume demand and recurring revenue.

Steve's take

Presto is building the connective tissue between fragmented charging networks and high-value fleet customers. They don’t build the hardware, but they help decide where the demand goes through customer relationships and usage patterns.

I expect to see Presto emerge as a significant player in the charging ecosystem.

Presto was founded in 2023 by two former Uber executives. In February 2025 they raised $15M in seed funding from Union Square Ventures, Congruent Ventures, Powerhouse Ventures, and Jetstream.

Power and Policy

Congress returns to work on Tuesday after a month-long August recess.  They will be met upon arrival with the immediate need to address funding for Fiscal Year 2026 by September 30, 2025, or face a partial government shutdown. Democrats are pressing for a “Big Four” leaders meeting as an urgent step to avert chaos. Republicans remain divided, weighing short-term stopgaps against full-year appropriations with deep cuts. Several critical appropriations bills—particularly on defense and energy—are still unresolved, making the path forward increasingly narrow.

In a dramatic escalation on Friday, President Trump moved to cancel approximately $4.9B in foreign aid — already approved by Congress — using a seldom-used mechanism known as a “pocket rescission.” By notifying Congress with fewer than 45 days before the fiscal year’s end, the rescission takes effect automatically and bypasses the need for legislative approval.

The action has drawn condemnation from both Democratic and Republican quarters. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) has called it illegal; Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says it undermines Congress’ constitutional authority and elevates shutdown risks.

Rob’s Take

Washington is entering a period of extraordinary fiscal and political tension, as Congress faces the looming September 30 funding deadline and the White House escalates its confrontation with lawmakers through the unprecedented “pocket rescission.” 

As we have discussed in previous issues, at the core of the conflict is a constitutional fight — welcomed by the Trump Administration — over Congress’s power of the purse. This fight is coming to a head.  If courts side with Congress, the ruling could establish new limits on executive authority; if not, presidents of both parties may inherit a powerful new tool to unilaterally rewrite spending priorities.

For congressional Republicans, the dual crises have exposed deep divisions. Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune face growing pressure to find a path forward that satisfies both hardline and moderate factions while avoiding a repeat of the 35-day shutdown of 2018-2019.

The coming weeks will be pivotal. If Congress cannot agree to at least a short-term continuing resolution, the government could partially shut down at the end of September, disrupting services, military operations, and economic confidence. At the same time, the courts could intervene on the rescission, injecting additional uncertainty into an already volatile political environment. Either way, these battles will shape not only the fiscal landscape for 2026 but also the broader narrative heading into an election cycle where issues of governance, stability, and U.S. leadership on the global stage will be front and center.

What Should We Build Next?

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⚡️Steve and Rob

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