Powerdot will acquire the Spanish and Portuguese operations of British charging operator InstaVolt. The transaction covers 49 sites with 200 fast and ultra-fast charging points, located in cities including Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon. For the Portuguese company, it is its first major acquisition and a signal that it intends to grow not only organically, but also through acquisitions.
The acquired portfolio includes 200 charging points, 159 of which are still under development. The stations are operational or being built in high-traffic locations, including supermarkets, restaurants, shopping centres and retail sites. Location partners include McDonald’s, Carrefour, IKEA, Aldi, Lidl and Mercadona.
Powerdot’s first major acquisition
Founded in Portugal in 2018, Powerdot has so far expanded mainly by building its own charging infrastructure. The acquisition of part of InstaVolt’s business is expected to open a new phase in the company’s strategy and accelerate growth in markets where it is already active.
The company notes that Europe’s electric vehicle charging market remains fragmented. As the number of electric cars grows, the scale of charging operators, consistent service standards and the ability to use infrastructure in different locations without switching apps or payment systems are becoming increasingly important.
“As the European EV charging sector matures, consolidation will play an increasingly important role. This acquisition is the first step in that direction,” said Luís Santiago Pinto, CEO of Powerdot.
Integrating the network onto one platform
Once the transaction is completed, the acquired charging points are expected to be integrated into Powerdot’s proprietary platform. The company says this will help standardise infrastructure management, station monitoring and services available to drivers.
Powerdot intends to use this model in future potential acquisitions as well. From an operator’s perspective, integrating existing charging portfolios can be faster than developing new locations from scratch, although it requires the alignment of technology systems, agreements with site partners and customer service standards.
The growing importance of consolidation is also linked to the cost of infrastructure development. Building fast and ultra-fast chargers involves not only purchasing equipment, but also securing grid connections, obtaining suitable locations and ensuring maintenance and technical availability.
Powerdot continues to grow in Poland
Powerdot is also active in Poland. According to company data, its Polish network includes more than 540 operational stations and over 1,650 charging points, with around 350 additional points under construction. The company says it accounts for more than half of the fast direct-current charging points available in Poland.
The operator develops infrastructure primarily at retail and service locations. In Poland, it works with chains including Biedronka, E.Leclerc and Decathlon, as well as shopping centre operators, including Galeria Krakowska and Galeria Kazimierz.
Powerdot currently operates in Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Poland. Its international expansion began in 2020.
Funding further growth
Powerdot’s growth has been supported by external capital. In 2022, the company raised €150 million from Antin Infrastructure Partners. Two years later, Antin and Grupo Arié invested a further €100 million.
In 2024, Powerdot also secured €165 million in green financing from a banking consortium comprising ABN Amro, BNP Paribas, ING, MUFG Bank, Santander and Société Générale.
The acquisition of InstaVolt assets in Spain and Portugal shows that the EV charging market is gradually moving beyond the phase of intensive construction of new charging points. Acquisitions, network integration and operational efficiency are becoming increasingly important factors in the sector’s development.
