Instavolt
138 employees on LinkedIn Β· 1 known investors
InstaVolt operates a network of DC rapid EV charging stations delivering 50kW to 160kW, with contactless card or app payment. It partners with retail and hospitality brands such as Costa Coffee and Bannatyne Health Club to provide amenities at charging sites in the UK.
Also known as InstaVolt Β· InstaVolt Limited
Investors Β· 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026InstaVolt develops, installs, owns and operates ultra-rapid public electric vehicle charging stations across the UK. Its chargers deliver DC power from 50kW to 160kW via open-standard connectors and are designed for pay-as-you-use access, with no subscription or connection fees. Drivers can start a session by tapping a contactless debit or credit card on the charger screen, or pay through the InstaVolt app, which also offers off-peak rates, site and facility search, and partner discounts.
The company positions itself as the largest fully public owner-operator of rapid DC charging stations in the UK and states that all electricity supplied through its chargers comes from renewable sources including solar and wind. It reports over 99% network uptime, maintained by in-house engineering and technical support teams, and provides free 24/7 driver support. Charge points are typically sited at retail, food and beverage, and forecourt locations, with amenity partners including Costa Coffee, McDonald's, Booths and Bannatyne Health Club, and the network includes larger sites such as the Winchester EV charging superhub. Its services are aimed at EV drivers, fleet operators, landowners and site hosts, and the site also offers advertising placements at charging locations.
Founding story
The company was founded in 2016 by a group of entrepreneurs who identified the opportunity in EV charging infrastructure, with Zouk Capital establishing the business together with the InstaVolt management team and angel investors contributing to early rounds.
Business model
InstaVolt owns and operates its charging assets rather than selling hardware, generating revenue from per-kWh charging sessions paid by drivers on a pay-as-you-use basis with no subscription or connection fees. It partners with landowners and retail, food, beverage and forecourt hosts to site chargers, and offers advertising opportunities at charging locations as an additional channel.
Per-kWh consumption charges paid at the point of use by contactless card or through the InstaVolt app, with app-only off-peak rates (for example 55p per kWh for app users between 8pm and 7am).
Traction
Operates a nationwide UK network of rapid and ultra-rapid charge points with reported uptime above 99%, host partnerships with McDonald's, Costa Coffee, Booths and Bannatyne Health Club, and repeated top rankings in Zapmap's driver-rated network awards. The stated expansion target is 10,000 rapid EV chargers by 2032.
Latest developments
The company continues to publish network and partnership updates, including an extension of its partnership with Zapmap and a promotional home-charging offer with So Energy for app users. Adam Fowler joined as Chief Financial Officer in 2025, and a report in May 2026 described new funding intended to accelerate the charging rollout.
βΈFull profile β market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Describes itself as the UK's largest ultra-rapid EV charging network and the largest fully public owner-operator of rapid DC charging stations in the UK. It was awarded 'Best EV Charging Network' in Zapmap's EV charging network rankings and, at the time of the EQT transaction, had been rated the most popular open network by EV drivers for four consecutive years.
Emphasis on network reliability (over 99% reported uptime), contactless tap-to-charge payment without subscriptions or connection fees, 24/7 free driver support, 100% renewable electricity supply, and amenity-rich host sites at retail and hospitality locations.
Technology
DC rapid and ultra-rapid charging hardware delivering 50kW to 160kW through open-standard connectors, supporting any compatible EV. Payment is by contactless card at the unit or through the InstaVolt app. The company operates proactive maintenance and 24/7 technical support and reports over 99% uptime; electricity supplied is sourced from renewable generation.
Go-to-market
Direct-to-driver access at publicly available charging sites, supported by the InstaVolt app and drivers' portal, plus site-host partnerships with retail and hospitality brands (Costa Coffee, McDonald's, Booths, Bannatyne Health Club) and a distribution partnership with the Zapmap charge point mapping service. Dedicated propositions exist for site owners, fleet owners and advertisers.
Public EV drivers, including those without off-street parking who rely on public charging; fleet operators; and landowners and retail/hospitality site hosts that house charging units.
Geography
Headquartered in Hampshire, with Basingstoke cited as its headquarters location, and operating a nationwide charging network across the UK. Following the EQT investment, entities were established in Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Iceland to support international expansion.
History
InstaVolt was founded in 2016 with backing from Zouk Capital, which established the company alongside the management team; Adrian Pike has served as Founding Director and Chairman since late 2016. Zouk's Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund invested in 2019. In February 2022 EQT Infrastructure agreed to acquire the company from Zouk Capital, with Zouk exiting in full, and EQT committed to supporting a rollout target of 10,000 rapid chargers by 2032. Non-executive directors Andrew Jones and Andy Higginson joined the board in 2022. Adrian Keen was CEO at the time of the EQT transaction; Delvin Lane joined as Chief Executive Officer in May 2024 and Adam Fowler became Chief Financial Officer in 2025.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources β announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed β not independently audited.
Timeline Β· 9
launches, deals, and filingsInstaVolt announced an extension of its partnership with charge point mapping service Zapmap.
Adam Fowler, previously CFO at Onecom, joined InstaVolt as Chief Financial Officer in 2025.
Delvin Lane joined InstaVolt as CEO in May 2024 from eEnergy Group plc, where he was Managing Director of Energy Management.
Reported conventional debt round of $133 million with participation from Investec, Natixis, Lloyds Bank and Santander.
$133M source β
EQT Infrastructure V, managed by EQT AB, agreed to acquire a controlling interest in InstaVolt from founding investor Zouk Capital, which exited its investment in full. EQT committed to invest in accelerating the rollout of charge points, supporting a target of 10,000 rapid EV chargers by 2032.
InstaVolt was awarded 'Best EV Charging Network' in Zapmap's driver-rated EV charging network rankings and had been rated the most popular open network by EV drivers for four consecutive years.
Following the EQT acquisition, InstaVolt Limited was integrated into Basingstoke Topco Limited's structure and entities were established in Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Iceland to support international expansion.
LondonMetric Property CEO Andrew Jones and former Morrisons chair Andy Higginson joined InstaVolt's board in non-executive capacities in 2022.
Gary Kirkland, previously at SSE plc and Anesco Ltd, joined InstaVolt as Chief Technology Officer in 2020.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
βΈResearch sources Β· 8
primary sources listed
- Instavoltinstavolt.co.uk Β· web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Instavolt do?
- InstaVolt develops, owns and operates the UK's ultra-rapid public DC EV charging network, backed by EQT Infrastructure.
- Who are Instavolt's investors?
- Instavolt's investors include Zouk Capital.