IONITY
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA European high-power electric-vehicle charging network created by automobile manufacturers and an infrastructure investor.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
IONITY is a European high-power charging network for battery-electric vehicles. The company was established in 2017 as a joint venture backed initially by BMW Group, Ford Motor Company, Mercedes-Benz Group and Volkswagen Group, with Hyundai Motor Group joining as a strategic partner in 2020. BlackRock's Climate Infrastructure Platform subsequently became a financial investor. The venture was created to address one of the principal constraints on long-distance electric-vehicle adoption: the availability of reliable, high-output charging on major European routes. IONITY develops and operates charging locations primarily along motorways and other important intercity roads. Its network uses the European Combined Charging System, or CCS, and individual sites generally contain multiple direct-current charging points. Depending on the site and hardware generation, charging capacity can reach 400 kW per point. Under suitable conditions, compatible vehicles such as the Porsche Taycan, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 can add a substantial driving range in a short stop, with some vehicles capable of reaching approximately 80 percent charge in around 18 minutes. Actual performance depends on vehicle architecture, battery temperature, state of charge, weather, grid conditions and charger availability. The network is designed around high-power charging rather than destination charging. Locations typically have between two and 24 CCS connectors, with an average of 6.44 connectors per station reported in December 2024. IONITY sites require substantial electrical infrastructure, including grid connections and, in many cases, dedicated substations intended to maintain high output when several vehicles charge simultaneously. Hardware has come from suppliers including ABB, Tritium, Axon and Alpitronic, while some early installations used equipment associated with Porsche. IONITY does not operate as an entirely closed service for the shareholder brands. Drivers can start charging through IONITY's own digital channels, supported vehicle services, roaming agreements with electric-mobility service providers and other payment methods. Roaming partners have included providers such as GreenFlux, Paua and Izivia. Selected vehicles and service combinations support Plug & Charge, allowing vehicle authentication and payment without manually starting a session. Subscription products and partner-specific pricing have also been used alongside ad hoc charging tariffs. The network's public rollout began in Germany in April 2018. Expansion accelerated during the following years, although the original construction ambitions were affected by permitting, site development, hardware deployment and the broader immaturity of Europe's charging market. IONITY opened its 100th station in Norway in May 2019 and its 200th station in December of that year. It reported 401 stations and 1,690 charging points at the end of 2021, 453 stations and 2,068 points at the end of 2022, and 594 stations with 3,306 points at the end of 2023. By October 2024, the network had 684 stations and 4,359 charging points across 24 European countries. IONITY's positioning is premium, pan-European and motorway-oriented. Its differentiation rests on high charging power, interoperability, spacing of sites on major corridors and the involvement of major vehicle manufacturers. At the same time, the company has faced criticism over pricing for non-subscribers, site coverage, amenities and the reliability of individual charging points. Its stated expansion direction is to reach 1,000 stations and 9,000 charging points by 2027, with a planned introduction of Alpitronic HYC1000 megawatt charging equipment in the second half of 2025 and an ambition to support charging at up to 600 kW.
History
IONITY was formed in 2017 by major automobile manufacturers seeking to accelerate the construction of a dependable European fast-charging network. Its founding industrial backers were BMW Group, Ford Motor Company, Mercedes-Benz Group and Volkswagen Group, whose brands included Audi and Porsche. The venture's purpose was broader than providing charging for one manufacturer's vehicles: it was intended to use the CCS standard and support cross-brand motorway travel. Hyundai Motor Group, representing Hyundai and Kia, announced its strategic partnership in 2019 and formally joined in 2020. BlackRock's Climate Infrastructure Platform later participated as a financial investor. The early plan called for approximately 400 high-power stations on major European routes by 2020. IONITY also sought public support for infrastructure development and received European Union Europ-e funding of £39.1 million for rollout across 13 member states. Construction depended on agreements with motorway and service-area operators including Tank & Rast, Circle K and OMV. Although the company expected 20 public sites during 2017, none had opened to the public by the end of that year, illustrating the practical difficulty of securing sites, permits, grid capacity and equipment. IONITY's first public station opened on 24 April 2018 at Brohltal-Ost on Germany's A61 motorway. Growth continued across Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland and Denmark during that year. By the end of 2018, 47 stations were marked open and a further 45 were under construction. The company reached its 100th public station at Rygge in Norway on 27 May 2019 and completed its 200th station on 20 December 2019. The network's commercial model changed significantly in January 2020. IONITY introduced a 0.79-euro-per-kWh tariff for customers without a contract, replacing the earlier widely reported session fee of 8 euros in many markets. The change generated strong criticism because occasional users faced a much higher effective cost. At the same time, automotive-backed mobility services could offer lower partner rates; Mercedes-Benz, for example, announced a 0.29-euro-per-kWh rate for eligible me Charge users. This episode established a recurring tension in the brand: IONITY presented itself as a premium network requiring expensive infrastructure, while drivers compared its prices with competing networks and manufacturer-specific discounts. By the end of the first quarter of 2021, IONITY operated 336 stations and slightly more than 1,000 stalls. It ended that year with 401 stations and 1,690 charging points. In August 2021, Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess publicly criticized the charging experience, pointing to insufficient coverage, inadequate toilets and refreshments, and chargers that were unavailable. The comments were notable because Volkswagen was one of IONITY's principal industrial supporters and showed that rapid physical expansion did not automatically guarantee a satisfactory customer experience. The network continued to expand: 453 stations and 2,068 charging points were reported at the end of 2022, followed by 594 stations and 3,306 points at the end of 2023. By October 2024, IONITY reported 684 stations and 4,359 points in 24 European countries. The company has also broadened access through roaming partnerships, digital payment options, subscriptions and Plug & Charge for selected vehicles and service combinations. Its charging sites generally use CCS connectors and are designed for high output, with some installations capable of up to 400 kW per point. In May 2024, Jeroen van Tilburg became CEO, succeeding Michael Hajesch. The company has stated a target of 1,000 stations and 9,000 charging points by 2027. Its next technical phase includes the planned deployment of Alpitronic HYC1000 megawatt chargers from the second half of 2025, with a stated objective of enabling a comprehensive network capable of 600-kW charging. IONITY therefore remains an infrastructure-growth brand whose identity combines automaker ownership, long-distance European mobility, high-power charging and an emphasis on interoperability.
- 2025
Planned megawatt charger deployment
[1]IONITY plans to begin installing Alpitronic HYC1000 megawatt chargers during the second half of the year.
- 2024
CEO transition and network expansion
[1]Jeroen van Tilburg becomes CEO, while the network reaches 684 stations and 4,359 charging points in 24 countries by October.
- 2023
Network reaches 594 stations
[1]IONITY reports 594 stations and 3,306 charging points at year-end.
- 2022
Network reaches 453 stations
[1]IONITY reports 453 stations and 2,068 charging points at the end of the year.
- 2021
Network reaches 401 stations
[1]At year-end, IONITY reports 401 stations and 1,690 charging points.
- 2020
Hyundai Motor Group formally joins
[1]Hyundai Motor Group formally becomes part of IONITY's strategic automotive backing.
- 2020
Per-kilowatt-hour ad hoc tariff is introduced
[1]IONITY replaces its commonly reported session fee with a 0.79-euro-per-kWh rate for customers without a contract.
- 2019
100th station opens
[1]IONITY reaches 100 public stations with the opening of a site in Rygge, Norway.
- 2019
Hyundai announces strategic partnership
[1]Hyundai Motor Group announces that Hyundai and Kia will join the IONITY partnership.
- 2019
200th station is completed
[1]IONITY completes its 200th charging station in December.
Products and positioning
A premium, interoperable European motorway charging network focused on fast, high-power charging for long-distance electric-vehicle travel.
Electric-vehicle charging infrastructure · 2018
IONITY High-Power Charging Stations
IONITY's core offering is a network of motorway-oriented direct-current charging sites using the European CCS standard. Sites may contain two to 24 connectors and support charging capacities of up to 400 kW per point on compatible hardware and vehicles. The network is intended for long-distance travel and is supported by high-capacity grid connections, often requiring dedicated substations.
Charging service · 2018
IONITY Charging Services
Drivers can initiate and pay for charging through IONITY's digital channels, supported vehicle services, roaming providers and other payment methods. The commercial structure has included both subscription access and ad hoc charging, with prices varying by market, contract and mobility-service provider.
E-mobility interoperability
IONITY Roaming
IONITY allows customers of participating electric-mobility service providers to use its charging network through roaming arrangements. Reported partners have included GreenFlux, Paua and Izivia, in addition to services associated with the shareholder automotive brands.
Charging authentication
IONITY Plug & Charge
For selected vehicles and compatible service arrangements, Plug & Charge allows the vehicle to identify itself to the charger and authorize a session without requiring the driver to use a card or manually authenticate in an application.
Next-generation charging infrastructure · 2025
IONITY Megawatt Charging
IONITY has planned deployment of Alpitronic HYC1000 equipment, a megawatt-class charging system designed to distribute very high power among multiple stalls. The planned rollout is part of the company's longer-term objective of supporting charging at up to 600 kW across a comprehensive European network.
Brand decisions
2025
Planned introduction of HYC1000 megawatt chargersGeneration changeBackground
IONITY is expanding a network whose existing high-power equipment can reach up to 400 kW per point, while future electric vehicles and commercial applications may require greater output.
Action taken
The company planned to install its first Alpitronic HYC1000 megawatt chargers in the second half of 2025 and pursue a network capable of 600-kW charging.
Aftermath
The deployment is intended to increase charging capacity and support the next generation of high-voltage and high-power electric vehicles.
Additional loan. €600 million (2025)
2020
Ad hoc charging price changes to 0.79 euros per kWhPrice changeBackground
IONITY had previously been associated with a flat session fee, while the network was investing in a large high-power European infrastructure footprint.
Action taken
The company introduced a 0.79-euro-per-kWh tariff for customers without a contract. Automotive mobility services could provide lower partner prices to eligible customers.
Aftermath
The change attracted criticism for imposing a substantial increase on occasional users and sharpened debate about the cost of premium public charging.
- Mercedes-Benz me Charge — Mercedes-Benz announced a lower partner rate of 0.29 euros per kWh for eligible me Charge users.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Octopus Fleet launches FleetBoost to cut public charging costs for commercial EV fleets[3]
Octopus Fleet launched FleetBoost, a subscription scheme available through the Octopus Fleet platform that enables businesses to cut public charging bills by up to 30 percent, meaning savings of up to £370 per vehicle per year, and aims to make it easier for drivers to find eligible chargers. Charge point operators MFG EV Power, IONITY and Be.EV have already joined FleetBoost, giving drivers access to thousands of public chargers across the UK.
Reported
Kia announces IONITY discounted-charging bolt-on[4]
Kia announced a monthly bolt-on for its Kia Charge service that reduces the standard IONITY charging rate by 64% and removes the session fee. The bolt-on costs £11.25 per month.
Reported
Kia launches KiaCharge in the UK[5]
Kia launched KiaCharge, a public charging service that gives Kia electric and plug-in hybrid owners access to charging networks through one account.
Reported
IONITY announces kWh-based charging prices[6]
IONITY announced that from January 31, 2020, customers without a Mobility Service Provider contract would pay €0.79 per kWh, changing from per-session pricing to a kWh-based structure.
Sources6 sources
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