The primary complaint of electric vehicle owners and potential buyers has shifted from the lack of range to the lack of chargers. In the wake of that move, several companies are rushing to fill the void, including Ionna, which is now moving from its public beta stage to a full-scale national expansion.
Ionna officials celebrate the company’s shift from testing to build out with the first locations coming to North Carolina.
Ionna, which is the progeny of BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and Toyota, has been putting its charging units through a public testing phase. This led to the opening of its first its Ionna Rechargery in Apex, North Carolina today.
The company also opened its new headquarters and Customer Experience Lab today in Durham, North Carolina. The hub will allow the company to continue development and testing while getting real-world feedback.
“Automaker vehicle fleets and everyday drivers helped stress-test the Ionna network, completing more than 4,400 charging sessions, on over 80 unique vehicle models, and dispensing nearly 63,000 kilowatt-hours of energy,” the company noted in a release.
“Ionna has refined its hardware, software, and customer experience to confidently step into a new phase of nationwide expansion.”
Next stage
Now that the company’s completed testing, it’s moving to the installation phase of its network. That starts with 100 contracted sites across the U.S., including two new Rechargeries in Houston, and Abilene, Kansas. A third location in Willcox, Arizona is underway. Six other unnamed locations are under construction as well.
Ionna completed more than 4,400 charging sessions, on over 80 unique vehicle models.
In all, Ionna plans to bring more than 1,000 charging bays online this year. It’s part of the larger plan to build 30,000 bays during the next five years.
The chargers coming in the future are likely to be much more like what gas-powered vehicle owners are used to: large, well-lit spots with a convenience store attached so motorists can do some light shopping or get a snack or a coffee while waiting for their vehicle to charge.
New look stations
Beginning in Q1 2025 at the Garner, North Carolina location, Ionna plans to introduce computer-vision powered by AI and sensor fusion technology to enable automated grab-and-go offerings.
These stores will use the same technology used by Amazon and its industry-leading “Just Walk Out” technology, these cutting-edge retail spaces will allow drivers to grab refreshments and essentials 24/7 and without checkout lines.
“Ionna will set a new standard for interoperability and ease of use in 2025,” the company noted in release. “Plug & Charge technology, already available now, will grow to include a leading number of automakers as the year progresses.
“Through vehicle integration, Ionna will also enable features like AI-driven smart reservations/routing optimization, in-car payments, and other features — the most integration-rich charging network in America is on its way.
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Others leading the charge
Mercedes-Benz cut the ribbon on its first branded charging station near Atlanta.
Ionna’s focus on expanded convenience for drivers waiting for their vehicle to charge isn’t a new concept, but it is in the early stages. In November 2023, Mercedes-Benz cut the ribbon on the first of scores of new Mercedes-branded charging stations that are supposed to be coming across the southern U.S.
The prototype station is located at the company’s headquarters in Sandy Springs, Georgia, and executives cut the ribbon there. The chargers at the pilot station are built by ChargePoint, and all are capable of supporting up to 400kW. Even though the locations are branded by Mercedes, any brand of vehicle is welcome to use the station.
The pilot station is intended as a model for all subsequent stations, and it includes a climate-controlled indoor lounge with couches and lounge chairs, vending machines, refreshments and restroom facilities.
Other companies, including Rivian, Lucid and others are looking to improve the charging experience by not only getting more high-speed chargers into the field, but making them more user-friendly.
State of things
A Tesla Supercharger station in California – the state with by far the most public EV charging locations.
Federal data shows there now are 69,004 public charging stations across the U.S., with 193,583 charging ports in operation as of the beginning of December. About 9% of those, or roughly 14,000, are DC fast chargers according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Depending upon their power levels and the specific vehicle, they can yield up to an 80% battery boost in 15 to 30 minutes. The percentage of quick chargers has been on the rise, reflecting the need for travelers to get a fast boost while on the road.
The number of charging ports – think of them as the electric equivalent of gas nozzles – has risen by nearly 11,000 over the last half year. And a variety of factors are contributing to the rapid roll-out. That includes the Biden administration’s move to distribute about $6 billion in funds allocated under the Inflation Reduction Act.
The majority of the plugs are being put in place by roughly a half-dozen major charger brands, the largest — ChargePoint — setting up 37,072 stations with 66,811 ports, the DoE reports. Tesla today runs one of the biggest networks, with 2,475 Supercharger stations with 28,625 quick-charge plugs. Its 4,433 Destination locations offer 14,310 slower Level 2 charge ports.
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