Ionna

Last updated
IONNA
Company type Joint venture
Industry Automotive infrastructure
FoundedFebruary 9, 2024;10 months ago (2024-02-09) [note 1]
Headquarters
Durham NC
,
USA
Area served
North America
Key people
Seth Cutler [1]
Products Automotive industry
Owners BMW Group, Mercedes-Benz Group, General Motors, Stellantis, Hyundai Motor Group, Honda Group, Kia Group, Toyota
Website ionna.com

Ionna is a HPC charging network for electric vehicles to facilitate long-distance travel across North America. With a concept to put its locations along highways it is similar to the Ionity network in Europe. [2] [note 2]

Contents

History

The American government recognized that a key element in expanding electromobility is the establishment of public charging points. From 2022 it started to fund the construction of fast charging stations ($7.5 billion for 500,000 charging points). [3] Tesla began opening its superchargers to third-party brands in 2023. [4] In 2022 they also made their previously proprietary charging plug available for standardization under the name North American Charging Standard (NACS). [5]

After opening, the Tesla Superchargers developed a dominant position in fast charging. In addition to the number of charging points, availability, [note 3] the ease of activation also played a role. [note 4] In mid-2023, many manufacturers began licensing Tesla's technology and the access to Tesla's Supercharger network - at which point the ratio of NACS to CCS charging points in North America's fast charging landscape was already 60 to 40 percent. [6] The Volkswagen Group, as the main shareholder of Electrify America, also announced that its vehicles will have access to superchargers from 2025. [7] [note 5]

In this market environment, Mercedes, BMW, GM, Stellantis, as well as Honda, Hyundai and Kia announced in July 2023 that they would combine their plans in order to build an independent network of HPC fast charging stations in North America. In February 2024, the IONNA LLC company began operations of the network under the name IONNA. The goal is to set up 30,000 HPC charging points. [8] [9] [1] For comparison, there were 12,000 charging points in operation at Tesla and 4,000 at Electrify America at that time.

The first new charging location is expected to open at the end of 2024. [10] Headquarters will be moved from Torrance, California to Durham, North Carolina. [11] [12] $10 million will be invested into the new site along with the creation of over 200 jobs; over the next ten years 725 million of investments are expected. [13]

In July 2024, Toyota announced it would join the IONNA joint venture. [14]

On October 3, 2024, IONNA announced its Chief Technology Officer as Jackie Slope, who previously worked at Crypto.com Arena and Madison Square Garden. [15]

As of December 2024 it was planned to build 50 stations until end of 2026, each with 10 charge points at Sheetz locations, and to get to 1000 stations until 2028. [16]

Charging stations

Sheetz truck stop in Springfield/PA (2020) Sheetz @ I-79 Grove City Exit, Springfield Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania - 20200510.jpg
Sheetz truck stop in Springfield/PA (2020)

In October 2024, IONNA broke ground on its first 'Rechargery' charging location, in Apex, North Carolina. The location is planned to include a lounge, bathrooms, and food and beverage service. 10 covered DC fast charging stalls will be capable of 400kW and 800 volt output with both CCS1 and NACS connectors. [15] [17] The first location has been equipped with Alpitronic 400. The Hypercharger HYC400 have a liquid-cooled cable for 500 A [and a 600 A boost] allowing up to 1000 V (as known from Ionity charging hubs). Each charger has two cables being either CCS or NACS. [18] [19] [20]

Im December 2024 four stations were opened, with four more planned for the first quarter of 2025. [18] [21] [22] [23] Also in December 2024, a cooperation with Sheetz has been announced, a chain of 24/7 convenience stores. Among the 750 locations in the northwest of the USA about 50 truck stops will be converted into a 'Rechargy' until the end of 2026. From the four openings in December 2024, three of them had already been at Sheetz locations. [21] [24]

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References

  1. 1 2 "High-Powered EV Charging Network, IONNA, Begins Operations in North America". Ionna LLC. 2024-02-24.
  2. ↑ Sam Abuelsamid (2024-02-09). "Automaker EV Charging Network Branded Ionna, Seth Cutler Named CEO". Forbes. Several of the members of this group are already part of a similar joint venture in Europe called Ionity that has been operational for several years
  3. ↑ Iris Martinz (21 December 2021). "Weißes Haus stellt Plan zum Ausbau des E-Ladenetzes vor" (in German). Elektroauto News.
  4. ↑ Yekikian, Nick (March 1, 2023). "The Tesla Supercharger Network Is Officially Open to Everyone". Edmans.
  5. ↑ Team, The Tesla (November 11, 2022). "Opening the North American Charging Standard". Tesla.
  6. ↑ Michael Neißendorfer (9 June 2023). "General Motors bindet Tesla Supercharger ein und setzt auf NACS statt CCS" (in German). Elektroauto News.
  7. ↑ "Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Scout Motors brands to implement the North American Charging Standard in future electric vehicles". Volkswagen AG . 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  8. ↑ Sebastian Schaal (2024-02-12). "Autobauer-Allianz bringt US-Ladenetz als Ionna an den Start". Electrive.net.
  9. ↑ Luca Leicht (2023-07-27). "Mehr als doppelt so viele Schnelllader wie Tesla". auto-motor-sport.
  10. ↑ Graham Jarvis (2024-05-29). "IONNA Superchargers to Miss Summer Targets". Wards Auto.
  11. ↑ "IONNA Selects Durham, North Carolina as Headquarters and Announces New Executive Leadership Team". news. Ionna. 2024-06-11.
  12. ↑ Tom Moloughney (2024-06-11). "Things Are Heating Up At Ionna, The Tesla-Challenging Charging Network From Seven Automakers". Inside EVs.
  13. ↑ Shaun Gallagher (2024-06-11). "Partnership of major automakers to bring global HQ, 203 high-paying jobs to Durham". WRAL News.
  14. ↑ Cawthon, Haley (July 15, 2024). "Toyota joins EV charging network Ionna". Automotive Dive. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  15. 1 2 PR Newswire (October 3, 2024). "IONNA Breaks Ground on first 'Rechargery' and Announces New CTO". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  16. ↑ Nicole Willing (2024-12-30). "IONNA and Sheetz to open 50 EV chargers in the Midwest and Eastern US". Charged EVs.
  17. ↑ Vijayenthiran, Viknesh (October 3, 2024). "Ionna's first charging station reimagines the gas station". Motor Authority. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  18. 1 2 Mark Kane (2024-12-23). "Watch the Soft Opening Event of Ionna's First Rechargery". EV Charging Stations.
  19. ↑ Mark Kane (2024-10-22). "Ionna Revealed Its 400 KW Chargers". EV Charging Stations.
  20. ↑ Sebastian Schaal (2024-06-13). "Mercedes-Benz setzt in den USA auf Alpitronic-Schnelllader" (in German). Electrive.
  21. 1 2 "IONNA Races Through 2024 with Milestones, Momentum, and Americana". Ionna. 2024-12-19.
  22. ↑ "Twitter: we are officially open". Ionna. X. 2024-12-27.
  23. ↑ "Twitter: Announce 4 more sites". Ionna. X. 2024-12-20.
  24. ↑ "IONNA and Sheetz Combine Efforts in Opening American Roads to EV Charging". Ionna. 2024-12-11.

Notes:

  1. ↑ The company register in Oregon shows a foundation in December 2005. The shell corporation was probably bought between July and February. The 9th of February points to the allowance for operation as a charging network.
  2. ↑ Mercedes, BMW and Hyundai are also founding members of Ionity
  3. ↑ availability over 99% and defunct charging points were shown correctly in the app
  4. ↑ specifically the charging cards were failing often
  5. ↑ the Electrify America charging sites are usually located on mall areas in the suburbs
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