Voltera is prioritizing the expansion of its autonomous vehicle charging hub network across the United States following the completion of its merger with Revel, as demand for robotaxi services increases and operators seek infrastructure to support larger fleets.
Frank Reig, CEO of Voltera, said the combined company aims to build a scaled national infrastructure platform by expanding in key markets, improving hub design and investing in technology to increase operational efficiency. The company is also focused on ensuring its existing facilities remain reliable as customers scale their operations.
“Our priority is to turn the combined footprint into a scaled national infrastructure platform for autonomous fleets,” Reig said in an interview with EVMagz. “The goal is simple: give customers confidence that infrastructure will be ready when they are.”
Infrastructure challenges extend beyond charging
Reig said the infrastructure required to support autonomous vehicles involves more than installing charging equipment. Developers must secure suitable land, obtain sufficient electricity capacity, navigate permitting and zoning requirements, and establish the operational systems needed to manage vehicle fleets.
“These facilities require the right land, significant power, permitting, zoning and operating systems, and today many utilities and cities simply aren’t set up to deliver all of those pieces on the timeline AV companies need,” he said.
Reig said cities could help accelerate deployment by creating clearer land-use and permitting processes, coordinating earlier with utilities and developers, and establishing regulations that support infrastructure development. Community acceptance is also important to ensuring that new facilities can be built and operated successfully.
Voltera’s approach focuses on building interconnected networks of hubs rather than relying on individual charging depots.
“We’re not building around chargers; we’re building around throughput,” Reig said. “AV fleets operate across an entire city, so one depot is never enough.”
Strategically located hubs can reduce unnecessary vehicle travel and help autonomous fleets move more efficiently between charging, staging, servicing and passenger trips.
Robotaxi hubs require substantial capital investment
The cost of developing charging infrastructure remains a significant consideration for autonomous mobility operators. Reig said a single hub can cost between $15 million and $20 million to develop, while a large city such as Los Angeles could require 10 to 20 hubs.
Financial viability depends on sustained customer demand, strategic site selection, sufficient power capacity and the long-term value of each facility as autonomous fleets grow.
“Costs scale quickly, which is why our model matters: we can finance the infrastructure while fleet operators keep their capital focused on vehicles, technology and market growth,” Reig said.
Under this approach, Voltera provides the infrastructure investment while fleet operators can direct more capital toward vehicle deployment, autonomous driving technology and market expansion.
Reig also emphasized that infrastructure performance is critical to the economics of autonomous fleets. A hub with substantial charging capacity may still be inefficient if vehicles travel too far to reach it, wait in queues or encounter equipment downtime.
Operational reliability shapes hub design
Voltera said its experience operating 20 hubs nationwide and supporting more than 52 million autonomous vehicle miles has highlighted the importance of reliability, availability and efficient vehicle turnaround.
Reig pointed to several operational requirements, including dedicated entry and exit routes, sufficient space for queue management, secure network infrastructure, and designated areas for vehicle cleaning, data storage and data transfer.
These features help ensure vehicles can move through facilities efficiently without disrupting site operations.
The company is also seeing opportunities across 40 markets, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, Miami and Atlanta. Reig said the most promising locations combine strong ride-hailing demand with the practical conditions needed to support larger autonomous fleets.
Those conditions include suitable real estate, available electricity capacity, workable permitting and zoning rules, and an environment in which operators and developers can plan for long-term growth.
AI to support more efficient fleet operations
Artificial intelligence is expected to play a growing role in managing the operational demands of autonomous vehicle infrastructure. Reig said AI could help optimize charging decisions, diagnose equipment faults, identify maintenance requirements and coordinate vehicle movements within hubs.
As autonomous fleets become more heavily utilized, the physical facilities and software systems managing them will need to evolve together.
“The goal isn’t automation for its own sake; it’s reducing turnaround time and keeping vehicles productively in service,” Reig said.
Voltera’s focus is on providing the power, space, security and operating systems that autonomous vehicle operators need, rather than commenting directly on the development of autonomous driving technology itself.
Voltera targets a leading role in autonomous mobility
Following the Revel merger, Voltera aims to expand its presence in markets where robotaxi operators are preparing to scale. The company plans to combine infrastructure development, technology and operational services to help customers enter new cities and support growing fleets.
Reig said the long-term objective is to establish Voltera as a leading infrastructure provider for autonomous ride-hailing.
“Voltera’s role is to be the market leader in autonomous ride-hail hubs, getting our customers live quickly in new markets and supporting them as they scale,” he said. “We will provide the infrastructure, technology, and services that make the next generation of urban mobility possible.”