Ionity reports progress of high power charging
Ionity has provided an update on the establishment of its high-power charger network in Europe: it is on schedule and currently has 63 sites with an average of six charging points in operation in nine European countries. Further 52 sites are under construction and the CEO considers expansion.
Ionity, which is a joint venture from Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, Porsche and Volkswagen, will be able to complete the construction of its 400 announced HPC sites along important motorways and highways in 23 European countries as planned by the end of next year at the latest.
In fact, Ionity CEO Michael Hajesch claims that they had secured contracts for about 95 per cent of the planned locations by now. According to the executive, rapid progress in network expansion can be expected “in the next 30 days”.
In addition, Hajesch also indicated things to come beyond 2020 when he said that “expansion plans are currently being prepared”. Ionity expects a lot of momentum, not the least due to electric vehicles to be launched by their founding members in an increasing number from next year. Expansion of high power charging opportunities could take the form of more charging stations and more charge points per site. Locations could be found not only along motorways but also on arterial roads and even busy entry and exit roads in dense urban areas.
The Ionity CEO expects competition in the charging business to increase with major oil companies now buying into the game that small players had set up. BP has made some strategic investments and also took over Chargemaster in the UK. Shell as well has been paying for fast advances in the field of e-mobility, not the last with the acquisition of Greenlots and the NewMotion. Shell is also a partner for Ionity as it grants the high power charging network space on its forecourts.
Additional reporting by Nora Manthey.
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