Meet Charles ‘Ico’ Sanchez | Founder of EVolution Parts

We had the good fortune of connecting with Charles ‘Ico’ Sanchez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Charles ‘Ico’, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I come from the Dominican Republic, where my father is a well-established businessman. He founded SERTELSA, the largest telecommunications company in the country, and later, Zero EmisiónRD, the primary electric car dealership. When I got involved with the family business, I started with social media, creating TikToks and Instagram reels that quickly yielded results. I soon became a spokesperson and moved into sales, where I discovered a passion for closing deals and engaging with customers.

A turning point came during a car ride with my father. He was frustrated with a call from a Jamaican customer needing EV spare parts. This piqued my interest because I realized we had international demand for parts, not just cars. Curious, I asked my father about it, and he explained the necessity to supply EV parts and his expertise in the area. Intrigued, I learned everything I could about electric car parts and building commercial relationships. With this knowledge, I proposed selling parts, not just cars. I started by helping in the service center, familiarizing myself with the parts catalog for each brand. Once confident, the goal was to take our business online and international.

In essence, my thought process has been expansion and growth. Inspired by my father’s legacy, who planted the seed in me, I have been dedicated to nurturing and expanding it ever since. As Goethe said, “Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” This philosophy drives me to continually build upon our foundation.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
EVolution Parts is an innovative online store specializing in EV parts and accessories. We offer a comprehensive, customer-centric shopping experience with a wide range of components for various EV models, including Tesla, Ford, Hyundai, and Kia. Our standout ‘Request a Part’ service allows customers to request hard-to-find items or simplify the search for a part, demonstrating our commitment to meeting individual needs. We are passionate about supporting the transition to sustainable transportation and driving the future of electric mobility, one part at a time.

It has definitely not been easy to get to where we are now as a business. As an incoming freshman student-athlete, the workload and stress were immense as I juggled business, academics, and athletics. Time management was a major challenge. Balancing these aspects was tough, and at times, I neglected personal time, school, or athletics. However, I learned the importance of balance. To be successful, you need to put in the work, but also recognize that every area of your life equips you with tools for your journey. No part of life should be neglected.

Another struggle was pride. Early success can make it hard to stay grounded. I’ve learned to stay humble and adopt a growth mindset. Instead of dwelling on small successes, I let them motivate me to achieve even greater things. A valuable lesson in starting any business is to be open to learning. You won’t get everything right on the first try. You will fail, but you must fail forward. Don’t be afraid to take risks, and if you fail, regroup, learn from your mistakes, and try again. Keep moving forward.

One thing I want the world to know about my story is to always put God first. Trust in Him and abide in Him. All my abilities were given to me by God to glorify Him, and all my accomplishments have happened because He made them possible. When you put God first, you thrive in all other areas.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I haven’t been to Colorado, but I’d love to visit. For now, I’ll share what I’d do if a friend visited my home country, the Dominican Republic, for a week.

We’d start in Santo Domingo, exploring the Zona Colonial, with breakfast at “La Cuchara de Madera” for mangú, visits to the Catedral Primada de América and Alcázar de Colón, lunch at “Pura Tasca,” and dinner at “Adrian Tropical” on the Malecón. We’d relax on the beaches of Boca Chica and Juan Dolio, enjoying seafood at “Neptunos,” and take a day trip to Samaná, visiting Cayo Levantado and dining at “El Timón de Samaná.” Midweek, we’d head to Punta Cana for luxury beach resorts and vibrant nightlife, dining at “La Yola.”

After that, we’d visit La Romana, explore Altos de Chavón, and enjoy the beaches, dining at “La Caña by Il Circo” at Casa de Campo. Next, we’d travel to Cabarete and Sosúa for surfing and kite surfing, then visit Santiago to see the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration and Centro León. We’d wrap up with a trip to Jarabacoa for mountain views and a beautiful sunset. We’d end the week back in Santo Domingo with shopping at Blue Mall and a farewell dinner at “SBG.”

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My dad. He has been my hero and motivation ever since I started. He came from nothing, and through sheer hard work and effort he has become a very successful businessman and a great father. I look up to him everyday and want to be more successful than him because of the success he had for our sake.
In addition, everything I have done with EVolution Parts has been thanks to his expertise on EVs which he is passing down to me, and his unconditional support. I love him and I want to make him proud.

Website: https://evolutionparts.net

Instagram: @charlessanchez10 and @evolutionpartss

Facebook: evolutionpartss

Youtube: evolutionpartss

Image Credits