Ionna EV charging network aims to raise the bar on Tesla
Tesla's Supercharger network has long been the gold standard for EV charging, but Ionna, a new network backed by eight major automakers, is raising the stakes.
Why it matters: With Ionna, the carmakers' goal is to build a rival charging network that offers faster charging and unique amenities.
That means reliable, 400 kW charging under lighted canopies, along with coffee, bathrooms, food, and spaces to hang out or take meetings. Think gas station, only better — and electric.
Catch up quick: Less than two years old, Ionna is a joint venture between BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and Toyota.
It's modeled after a similar pan-European network called Ionity that was created by some of the same players.
Ionna's goal is to open 30,000 charging bays across the U.S. by 2030 — roughly the same number of plugs Tesla has today, but with faster speeds.
The fastest Tesla chargers deliver up to 250 kW of power; Ionna chargers provide 400 kW.
Where it stands: The first 12 "Rechargeries" are now open, providing a total of 120 charging bays, with plans for 1,000 by the end of this year.
For now, 60% of the bays have CCS connectors, the most common type of plug, and 40% have Tesla's NACS connector, which is gradually becoming the industry standard. That ratio will shift as the NACS transition continues.
Ionna also has a partnership to open Rechargeries at 50 Sheetz convenience store locations by 2026, with incentives and loyalty programs rolling out this year.
Zoom in: The first Rechargery in Apex, North Carolina, is in a former gas station, where the service shop is now a cafe.
Another, in Garner, North Carolina, features Amazon's "Just Walk Out" technology in the snack shop.
Other Rechargeries have opened in Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kansas, Arizona, and Missouri, with California up next.
"We're experimenting with different business models," CEO Seth Cutler tells Axios. "We want to make sure the driver experience they have is better, bar none, than what they'd have at a gas station today."
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