Electric vehicle charging network Ionity has announced that it is investing around 700 million euros to install more than 5,000 additional fast-charging points by 2025. As such, the joint venture – in which Volkswagen, with its Porsche and Audi brands, has a stake – is creating more than 1,000 locations for fast charging at up to 350 kW.
E-mobility’s success is highly dependent on the charging infrastructure, which is why Ionity, Europe’s largest open high-power charging (HPC) network located in 24 countries, is investing in its fast-charging network for electric vehicles. The joint venture in which Audi has a stake will increase the number of high-performance 350 kW charging points from more than 1,500 at present to around 7,000 by 2025. In addition, they are no longer being built only along freeways, but also near major cities and along busy main roads. As a result, the number of charging locations is also increasing significantly – from just under 400 at present to more than 1,000.
In addition, Ionity plans to expand many of the existing locations – depending on their utilization levels. New sites will be designed with six to twelve charging points right from the beginning. This significantly reduces charging and waiting times for users. In addition, the company plans to acquire more of its own land in order to build and operate service stations. Through covered charging stations or complete charging facilities including dining options and stores, Ionity wants to significantly enhance the customer experience.
“We are transitioning our product range to electric cars in all of our core segments. This is a major change, but I see it as an even greater opportunity,” said Markus Duesmann, chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG. The success of e-mobility heavily depends on an extensive charging infrastructure, he added.
“More than ever before, it isn’t just the product that matters, but the entire ecosystem. With its focus on advancing and improving the charging network offering, Ionity’s massive expansion will play a key role in making electric vehicles more attractive.” Audi is planning a broad-based EV rollout with more than 20 all-electric models by 2025. Starting in 2026, the brand will only launch new, innovative all-electric models.
Audi is a founding member of Ionity and has been a joint venture partner from the very beginning. Ionity’s network of fast-charging stations located throughout Europe is a cornerstone of the e-tron Charging Service, Audi’s own charging service. Using just one charging card, this service currently offers access to more than 280,000 charging points in 26 European countries.
