InstaVolt still leading the charge after 9 years with 3,000 chargers

This month, we’re celebrating InstaVolt’s ninth birthday, a milestone that marks almost a decade of sustained innovation, rapid expansion and a continued commitment to delivering reliable, ultra-rapid charging for drivers across the UK and beyond. It’s a moment that gives us the chance to reflect on how far we’ve come and the progress that has shaped our network into what it is today. 

When we began in late 2016, our vision was simple but ambitious: to build a network that made EV charging as fast, straightforward and dependable as possible.  

Months later, in early 2017, we installed our very first charger in Devon, setting the foundations for the exceptional growth that followed. Even this early on, we showcased our commitment to making EV charging simple by leading the industry with a tap-and-go contactless payment system.  

By 2018, we had reached 200 chargers nationwide. In 2019, drivers using our network achieved 2 million emission-free miles, avoiding the equivalent CO2 emissions of more than 26,000 trees per year. 

In 2020, while the world experienced a year like no other, we continued to invest in and expand our network by installing our first charger under our exclusive partnership with McDonald’s.  

The pace of innovation accelerated further in 2021, when we installed our first BYD chargers, cutting charging times by up to 50%. This was also the year we strengthened our ease-of-use model with the launch of our app and the Volts loyalty scheme, helping drivers plan journeys and find chargers even more easily. 

By 2022, drivers had completed 2 million charging sessions across our network. In 2023, we celebrated two major milestones: doubling the size of our Banbury hub – one of the UK’s busiest charging locations by installing our 1,000th charger and opening our first international site in Iceland. 

Last year brought a series of significant achievements, including the opening of our 14-charger hub at Syon Park. Across the network, we powered more than 440 million emission-free miles and helped save 50 million kilograms of greenhouse gases. We also leased 2,000 chargers across the UK and expanded internationally into Spain, Portugal and the Republic of Ireland, marking a major step in our global journey. 

 This year we reached our 3,000th charger live or in planning as well as one of the most exciting milestones in our history: the opening of our Winchester Superhub. Designed as a first-of-its-kind flagship location, it features 44 ultra-rapid chargers, fully accessible bays and an innovative on-site renewable energy generation system using solar panels and battery storage.  

The system intelligently manages how the site draws power, helping us reduce costs and sets a new benchmark for what the future of EV charging can look like. A UK first also happened in 2025 with a fully integrated battery storage system at a motorway service station being developed at Corley Services on the M6.  

Reaching nine years is a testament to the dedication of our teams, the support of our partners and the trust placed in our network by millions of drivers. As we continue to grow, we remain focused on delivering fast, reliable and accessible charging that makes the switch to electric easier for everyone.