IONITY, new JV between BMW, Daimler, Ford & VW to build EV charging stations



BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen have just announced a new joint venture, IONITY to develop and operate a High-Power Charging (HPC) network for electric vehicles across Europe.

IONITY aims to get 400 HPC stations up and running by 2020, giving electric car owners greater convenience and peace of mind for long-distance journeys across Europe. The company aims to roll out the first 20 stations by the end of 2017 located on major highways in Germany, Norway and Austria placed at 120 km intervals.

Each charging point features a charging capacity of up to 350 kW as well as different socket design to cater to cars from different manufacturers. The charging point is also able to support high-speed charging for shorter charge times compared to existing systems. This multi-brand, Europe-wide distribution of HPC will help make electrified vehicles more appealing and feasible, an important step for EVs.

IONITY CEO, Michael Hajesch said “The first pan-European HPC network plays an essential role in establishing a market for electric vehicles. IONITY will deliver our common goal of providing customers with fast charging and digital payment capability, to facilitate long-distance travel”