Here’s An Overview of Ionna – The US’s Massive New Charging Network
The automakers BMW, Honda, GM, Stellantis, Kia, Hyundai, and Mercedes are joining forces to bring a massive 30,000-station charging network for electric vehicles (EVs) to use in the United States by 2030.
Introducing Ionna
According to a report from Car and Driver, the first of Ionna’s planned 30,000 US charging stations will open up this year and feature both CCS and Tesla’s North American Charging Standard plugs. The automakers involved in setting up Ionna will also link up its system to their payment apps and route set-up navigations to make it easier for EV owners to use these stations.
Ionna announced last week that Seth Cutler will be its CEO. Cutler was previously the COO, president of another charging network, EVgo, and the chief infrastructure engineer of Electrify America.
The company has significant plans for its charging infrastructure that go beyond simply building 30,000 stations. They also plan to develop flagship stations that Car and Driver describe as akin to “airline lounges,” featuring restrooms and refreshments. Their charging network will have stations along various highways and urban areas nationwide.
Tesla Will Have A Challenger
The automakers BMW, Honda, GM, Stellantis, Kia, Hyundai, and Mercedes announced last July that they would join forces to build a significant EV charging network for North America. The goal is to produce a more reliable charging network for EV buyers. Outside of Tesla’s supercharger network, current charging networks have yet to offer EV owners a seamless, convenient charging experience.
While Ionna hopes to challenge Tesla’s supercharger network to become the gold standard of EV charging in North America, it will not be easy. Tesla began unveiling their supercharger network in 2012, so they have a head start on Ionna. Initially, only Tesla vehicles were allowed to charge at its supercharger network; however, many automakers have inked deals with Tesla that will enable them to access it later this year or in 2025. Carmakers who have signed on to use Tesla’s supercharger network include Ford, Fisker, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Genesis, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Lexus, Lucid, Nissan, Volvo, Polestar, Porsche, Scout Motors, Toyota, and Volkswagen. Stellantis and their brands, Maserati, Jeep, Dodge, RAM, and Chrysler, just recently signed on to join Tesla’s charging network after holding off from signing for months.
It will be interesting to see how opening up its charging network to other automaker’s EVs will affect Tesla’s sales numbers. Being the only EV maker in the country with a reliable charging network for their cars undoubtedly gave them a sales advantage, with potential EV buyers struggling with range anxiety. Other automakers joining their network and opening their own will significantly nullify that edge that Tesla has had over their competitors for so long.