Volta Charging
| Company type | Public (until 2023), then subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electric vehicle infrastructure |
| Founded | 2010 in Hawaii, United States |
| Founder | Scott Mercer, Chris Wendel |
| Defunct | 2025 |
| Fate | Acquired by Shell USA in 2023; operations discontinued in 2025 |
| Successor | Shell USA (EV charging network) |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Area served | United States (23 states by 2021) |
| Products | Electric vehicle charging stations with digital advertising screens |
| Owner | Shell USA (since 2023) |
Number of employees | 190 (at time of planned closure in 2025) (2025) |
| Parent | Shell USA |
Volta Charging was an American company specializing in electric vehicle infrastructure, established in 2010 in Hawaii by Scott Mercer and Chris Wendel. By September 2021, the company had installed more than 2,000 charging stations spanning twenty-three states. These stations accommodated all leading plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles available in the United States and included digital advertising screens. Charging services were generally provided at no cost to users, supported financially through advertising revenue.
On March 31, 2023, Shell USA completed the acquisition of Volta for about $169 million, incorporating it into Shell’s growing EV charging network across the U.S. Nevertheless, on August 4, 2025, Shell revealed intentions to discontinue Volta’s operations and remove its charging infrastructure by the end of that year, which would lead to the termination of 190 employees; some affected staff could seek employment opportunities within Shell.
History
Volta Charging originated in Hawaii in 2010, founded by Scott Mercer and Chris Wendel. The company’s goal to expand EV infrastructure attracted early investment from Leonardo DiCaprio.
In February 2021, Volta announced a merger with the special-purpose acquisition company Tortoise Acquisition Company II. This transaction took the company public on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "VLTA" on August 27, 2021.
By September 2021, Volta had rolled out over 2,000 charging stations across twenty-three U.S. states. Later that year in November, it entered a partnership with Topgolf to install charging stations at Topgolf venues nationwide.
During the third quarter of 2021, Volta reported a 77% increase in revenue compared to the previous year, reaching $8.5 million. In March 2023, Shell USA acquired Volta in a full cash deal, substantially broadening Shell’s EV charging footprint.
See also
External links
- Electric vehicle infrastructure developers
- American companies established in 2010
- Special-purpose acquisition companies
- Electronics companies established in 2010
- Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange
- Companies based in San Francisco
- 2010 establishments in Hawaii
- 2023 mergers and acquisitions