There’s big news in the world of electric vehicle charging. On February 4, Ionna announced it’s shifting gears in a major way, transitioning “from a public beta to [a] full-scale national release,” meaning that motorists will soon be able to drive coast-to-coast while juicing up at Ionna stations. Additionally, the consortium announced it’s partnered with Amazon to offer convenience stores with the online retailer’s “Just Walk Out” technology at select charging locations.
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Building A Better Network
If you haven’t heard of it, Ionna is a joint venture charging network founded by a pantheon of global automakers including BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Toyota. Representatives from these companies participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the first Ionna Rechargery (yes, that’s what they call their charging stations), which is located in Apex, North Carolina as well as the consortium’s new headquarters and customer experience lab in Durham, North Carolina.
The announcement of Ionna’s national release comes after a rigorous testing phase. Fleet operators and everyday EV drivers alike helped stress test the network last year. Some 4,400 charging sessions were completed with around 80 different electric vehicle types. In total, the network pumped out nearly 63,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity, putting the system’s hardware and software to the test.
Moving forward, Ionna also announced it has more than 100 contracted sites, charging locations that will be spread across the nation. This week, Rechargeries will open in Houston, Texas, and Abilene, Kansas, though another half-a-dozen sites are under construction right now, including one in Willcox, Kansas. Ionna is aiming to have more than 1,000 live, functional charging bays in service by the end of this year, helping EV customers make coast-to-coast drives.
According to a media release posted by BMW, “Ionna is delivering on its mission to provide the coverage drivers need, the reliability they deserve, and the amenities they crave.” If they can deliver on those promises, they’ll have addressed many of the most common complaints motorists have about electric vehicle public charging.
It’s already in service, but the network will also increase “interoperability and ease of use” by continuing to grow plug-and-charge capability, which makes it much simpler to juice up an EV because you just plug the connector in and walk away; there’s no need to fumble with cumbersome phone apps or swipe a credit card.
The Convenience Of Amazon
Elevating the charging experience, Ionna is also working with Amazon to offer convenience stores at select Rechargery locations. With artificial intelligence and sensor fusion capability, these stores will feature Just Walk Out technology, a feature that allows customers to grab the items they need and then leave the store without having to go through a traditional checkout line. Expect this to be offered at Ionna’s Garner, North Carolina charging location in the first quarter of the year.
The transition to a more electrified future has been long, slow and fraught with issues. Slowly but surely, though, EVs are gaining traction in the U.S. The availability of reliable, convenient, and abundant charging locations, like what Ionna is working on, should continue to help electric vehicles grow in popularity.
