In a move that shows the growing reach of electric vehicle (EV) charging, Topgolf Entertainment Group, a company that builds driving ranges in big cities, will add electric charging stations to venues across the country.
Using Volta Inc.’s charging networks, Topgolf has already installed EV charging stations at venues in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Oregon and Texas. The expansion of charging stations will be in venues in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, South Carolina, Texas and Washington.
The move to expand charging networks is considered a critical need given that the automotive industry is transitioning quickly to all-electric models. As the number of EVs increases on the road, EV charging station infrastructure will need to grow to meet the demand. New EV charging is coming globally, and experts believe the charging networks will grow at a much higher rate rather than the demand for hydrocarbon fuels that grew steadily over the previous 120 years.
IHS Markit forecasts that the number of public and semi-public charging stations will increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28% between 2020 and 2030. In the U.S., the CAGR will be 32%. Public stations are available for use to any vehicle if it meets the charging requirements. Semi-public charging stations have some restriction on use — meaning a driver must buy something (at a hotel or shopping mall for instance) to use it.
EV sales growth is outpacing the traditional auto industry and experts believe that expeditious installation of a stable and secure EV charging infrastructure will be needed, or it will hinder adoption of EVs globally.
Over the next 18 months, Topgolf plans to expand the charging stations into these new markets.
“We believe that placing charging stations where people are already spending their time and money is essential to support the growing EV adoption in the U.S.,” said Scott Mercer, founder and CEO of Volta. “We aim to provide not only a seamless charging experience for drivers, but also enable businesses to provide an added amenity for their guests and a way to lower their environmental impact.”
Volta builds and operates nationwide EV charging networks centered on the spending habits of consumers. Volta builds its networks where drivers already spend time and money such as grocery stores, pharmacies and other retail locations.
