IONITY is one of the largest charge point operators (CPOs) in Europe! With over 730 ultra-rapid charging sites across 24 European countries, their coverage is extensive and they’re only growing. As one of the first CPOs Electroverse originally partnered with, we’re thrilled to reminisce and hear about IONITY’s journey since.
We sat down with Director Network Development at IONITY, David Mignan, to hear more about it!
Let’s get plugged in…
IONITY was founded in 2017 as a joint venture between the car manufacturers BMW Group, Ford Motor Company, Hyundai Motor Group, Mercedes-Benz AG and Volkswagen Group with Audi and Porsche as well as BlackRock's Climate Infrastructure Platform as a financial investor.
IONITY builds and operates the largest open-brand High Power Charging (HPC) network along European motorways. The HPC charging capacity of 350 kW enables maximum charging speeds. As a commitment to sustainability, IONITY only sources renewable energy for carbon-neutral driving.
It’s hard to believe that when we started, we were just a small team of about 15 people, all crammed into one meeting room. We spent those early days brainstorming and discussing the design of our very first stations and the customer experience. Looking at how far we’ve come since then is truly something I’m proud of.
Something you might not know: We have two amazing sister companies working alongside us to enable electric driving for everyone around the world – IONNA in North America and IONCHI in China. The global transition to electric mobility is accelerating at lightning speed.
The first IONITY charging site “Brohltal Ost” began operation in April 2018 in Niederzissen, Germany — just five months after the company was founded. Since that we have come a long way. In February 2025, the IONITY network counted more than 730 charging sites and more than 4,800 HPC charging points in 24 European countries.
The first IONITY charging site, "Brohltal Ost," began operations in April 2018 in Niederzissen, Germany — just five months after the company was founded. Since then, we’ve come a long way. By February 2025, the IONITY network had grown to include over 730 charging sites and more than 4,800 HPC charging points across 24 European countries.
Here’s an interesting fact for the readers: We were the first Charge Point Operator (CPO) to be integrated into the Octopus Electoverse, making all IONITY charging points available directly in the app.
As the use cases for EV continue to grow, we aim to build our charging sites wherever our customers need them most. High-traffic hubs like airports play an essential role in this, especially for serving fleet customers. Our recently installed fast-charger at Bodensee-Airport Friedrichshafen is a great example of how we’re expanding our network to meet these needs. We’re continuously evaluating opportunities to provide charging infrastructure at more airports and other key locations.
Since IONITY’s founding in 2017, the EV charging industry has advanced rapidly, driven by technological improvements and the growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). From the start, IONITY focused on offering 350 kW ultra-fast charging, which has become a benchmark in the industry.
As EVs have evolved, more vehicles now support high-power charging, making IONITY’s 350 kW commitment even more relevant. In parallel, innovations such as Plug & Charge, enhanced payment solutions, and better authentication have shaped the charging landscape, and IONITY has led the way in adopting these advancements.
Reliability and customer experience have been key focuses. With more EVs on the road, drivers expect stations to be consistently operational. IONITY invests heavily in maintaining high uptime and improving the entire charging journey—from locating stations to making seamless payments.
Our strong IT infrastructure has been pivotal in this success, enabling us to quickly adapt to customer needs and collaborate with partners to further improve the experience. By staying ahead in technology, reliability, and user experience, IONITY has maintained its position as a top ultra-fast charging network in Europe.
IONITY’s expansion in the UK focuses on two main strategies. The first is the installation of charging stations along key strategic road networks to enable drivers to freely move across the country, especially on longer journeys. The second is the development of urban sites, located in or around major cities, to support local drivers and businesses, including fleets and taxis.
Our partnership with Hilton Hotels is part of this broader plan. While roadside locations with 24/7 amenities work well for our customers, we also collaborate with various other partners. These include motorway services, out-of-town retail parks, and food and beverage outlets such as Starbucks drive-thrus.
The UK is a key market for IONITY, and we are committed to expanding our network in the coming years. We are actively seeking new partnerships with businesses across the country that can benefit from collaborating with us to help drive this growth.
These developments mark a significant step forward for the EV community, setting higher standards and driving meaningful improvements across the industry. At IONITY, we are actively engaged in shaping this evolving regulatory landscape. We work closely with policymakers to help design a framework that supports both growth and innovation. In the UK, for example, we are proud to be a founding member of ChargeUK, where we contribute to discussions, offer constructive feedback, and advocate for necessary changes. Similar initiatives are also underway in other European countries, such as Charge France, as well as on a broader European level.
Raising the reliability standard is a positive and necessary challenge for the industry. It pushes hardware manufacturers to improve their products and adapt to meet the increasingly high demands of CPO like us. Ultimately, this helps build greater confidence among EV drivers, knowing they can rely on consistent, high-quality charging infrastructure.
Equally important is the focus on customer experience. These policy changes offer a fantastic opportunity to elevate the entire EV charging journey making it not just comparable to, but potentially better than, the traditional refuelling experience. We have supported Plug & Charge for years as it is simplifying the process, offering a seamless, hassle-free experience that supports the broader adoption of EVs and helps make electric driving the new standard for convenience and efficiency.
We always have our customers’ needs top of mind: How can we enable seamless electric driving across Europe? We achieved our initial goal of having an IONITY charging site every 150 kilometres across Europe. Now it’s about filling in blanks to increase network density in highly used areas, move closer to urban areas and expand existing charging sites, where we see a need based on customer usage.
When looking and building new sites we look at various aspects, ranging from business-driven like expected traffic, strategic position along main roads as well as consumer-driven factors like amenities, easy access and partnerships with landlords offering an added value. A win-win-win situation here for the customer, our partners and us at IONITY.
IONITY is preparing for a future where ultra-fast charging becomes the standard, not just the exception. Currently, we offer charging speeds of up to 350 kW, depending on the vehicle. However, we're already evaluating and testing future hardware that will enable even faster charging as new vehicles with 800V systems and higher charging speeds enter the market, setting new benchmarks.
This development follows the classic hockey stick curve, where charging speeds will continue to increase, significantly reducing the time it takes to charge from 10 to 80% in the coming months and years. In the near future, we expect charging times to drop to an average of just 10 to 15 minutes, allowing drivers to continue their journey more quickly and enabling our sites to accommodate more vehicles throughout the day. Currently, the average charging time is around 25 minutes. It’s an exciting, fast-paced journey, powered by 100% renewable energy at IONITY.
IONITY currently operates in 24 markets across Europe, making us the only fully independent network with such extensive coverage. This gives our customers the freedom to travel across Europe, experiencing that reassuring "ahh" moment every time they find an IONITY station—reliable, fast, and with enough chargers available to avoid long wait times. Moving forward, we plan to expand our network in all countries over the next few years, with a particular focus on strengthening our presence in core markets and adding more sites in urban areas to our portfolio.
The charging infrastructure business must be built up from scratch, it’s totally new to everyone – hardware suppliers, CPOs, MSPs, vehicle drivers and partners like commercial centres, restaurants or parking lot operators. Nothing is set in stone; everything is fluent, and patterns still need to be developed. To find the best solutions for the drivers and speed up the transition towards sustainable mobility, the different industry players need to work together to find creative and meaningful solutions to new problems. And that is the reason why we appreciate the partnership with Octopus so much because it helps us to serve all our customers better.
With four kids, practicality comes first – so my dream EV has to have seven seats. Right now, I’m driving a KIA EV9, and I genuinely love it. It’s perfect for family adventures, offering a great range, fast charging capabilities, and plenty of space for both kids and luggage. I also love road-tripping, and this car makes long-distance travel comfortable and stress-free.
My most recent memorable trip was a road trip through France, visiting friends and putting the IONITY charging network to the test. We covered a route from Lille to Dijon, Lyon, Annecy, and Font-Romeu in the Pyrenees, before heading back – a round trip of around 1,500 miles (approximately 2,400 kilometres). Traveling with both toddlers and teenagers made the experience even more interesting – and it was great to see how well the network handled real family travel needs.
That said, my most challenging EV journey was actually much shorter. Back in 2013, when I bought a Nissan Leaf, I had to drive it from Paris to Lille – about 140 miles (225 kilometres). At the time, the fast-charging network was nearly non-existent, and the car’s range was limited. It was a real adventure – definitely one for my EV history book!
I swear by preheating the car before a trip. There’s nothing better than stepping into a perfectly warm (or cool!) car, especially when you’re traveling with little ones. It’s a simple trick that makes every journey start on the right note.
Use your in-car navigation system, as many of them offer convenient settings that allow you to filter for IONITY stations as your preferred option. With our pan-EU coverage and dense network, you never have to worry about your next stop. Just follow your car’s recommendations for your next stop. Charging anxiety is a myth of the past!
The classic golden rule: Charge up to 80% and then move on. Charging beyond that point slows down significantly and keeps others waiting unnecessarily. Let’s keep the flow going for everyone!
Feeling enlightened or do you think something was missing? Let us know by sharing your feedback.
Interested in learning more? Head over to our Electroverse Community area for more electrifying content!
