InstaVolt acquires GeniePoint sites, vows to upgrade chargers

InstaVolt has agreed to acquire 228 GeniePoint charging locations from Equans, in a deal that will take its UK network beyond 1,000 sites.

The company was quick to note that it’s the first charging company in the UK to grow to more than 1,000 sites, with InstaVolt leveraging its myriad of partnerships, and now this acquisition to boost its network. Amongst the partnerships the company has under its belt, include a deal to provide EV charging infrastructure to McDonald’s, which has more than 1,450 restaurants in the UK. 

InstaVolt’s latest bumper growth comes from acquiring an estate of more than 260 chargers, however. This further highlights the wider consolidation phase that is now shaping the UK’s public charging market. That’s something we’ve already recently addressed, with smaller firms looking to exit the market while large firms with deep pockets look to expand their networks and leverage greater economies of scale. 

I would expect further consolidation to occur throughout the coming years, but it could be news for site hosts and EV drivers. Many smaller players did not have the capital to ensure reliable uptime of their EV charging network, which could damage the reputation of the venues that host those chargers. Meanwhile, InstaVolt is not only taking over the GeniePoint chargers and slapping its brand on them – it’s looking to upgrade them to bring them up to the standard people expect from the company. 

InstaVolt said the upgrades will include enhanced grid connections, battery energy storage systems, improved signage and the deployment of BYD ultra-rapid charging technology. The company also expects to boost the number of chargers across the acquired estate from more than 260 to over 400.

In a Zap-Map survey of EV charging networks, InstaVolt ranked fourth in terms of customer satisfaction. That’s impressive considering it has the widest reaching network, with more than 1,000 sites. Compare that to Tesla, which topped the survey, and yet only has 97 locations to maintain. 

Delvin Lane, Chief Executive Officer of InstaVolt, said the acquisition was “a major milestone” for the company and the UK EV charging industry.

“The UK EV market is moving quickly, with more than two million electric cars now on UK roads and demand continuing to grow,” he said. 

“Drivers need infrastructure that keeps pace, and that means more chargers in the right places, working reliably, every time.”