A joint venture of eight major automakers said it’s established more than 3,000 public electric-vehicle chargers in its quest to have 30,000 operating across the U.S. by 2030.
The IONNA charging network took a big step forward in a new deal with the Wawa convenience store chain for its biggest single collaboration since it formed two years ago.
The tie-up opened a Wawa-hosted charging station this month in Daytona Beach, Fla. IONNA didn’t specify how many the two will produce, saying only that the Daytona Beach location will be the “first of many” of what are being called Rechargeries.
The joint venture said Wawa already had an extensive charging infrastructure before the two groups finalized the deal.
IONNA is a collaboration among BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes, Stellantis and Toyota to build public chargers in urban areas and along major highways. It aims to integrate the amenities American drivers have come to expect on the road, à la convenience stores next to gas pumps.
“We couldn’t think of a better way to achieve a key milestone than reaching it with Wawa, a host that allows our drivers to charge with ease and in comfort, knowing they’re being well cared for,” said IONNA CEO Seth Cutler in a press release announcing the deal.
When the JV formed in 2023, its members said the charging stations would support the North American Charging Standard developed by U.S. EV market leader Tesla, as well as the Combined Charging System standard that accommodates AC and DC fast charging.
IONNA said it currently has more than 200 chargers in operation and more than 3,000 contracted.
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