The IONNA charging network, the fast-charging joint venture founded by eight automakers, now operates more than 180 live charging sites across the U.S. That is more than double its size at the start of 2026. The company reported the milestone this week, weeks after earning the top ranking among DC fast chargers in the JD Power 2026 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Public Charging Study, its first year of eligibility. IONNA’s founders are BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Toyota.
Highlights
- More than 180 live sites nationwide, more than doubling the network since the beginning of 2026
- 40 Rechargeries @ Circle K brought online since the partnership was announced in April
- 19 supported partner apps, with Plug & Charge for certain Toyota and Lexus models expected in October
- Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz have joined BMW and GM in offering IONNA charging discounts
Scaling the National Footprint
IONNA describes itself as the largest 400 kW charging network in the U.S. Much of this year’s growth has come through convenience retail. Since announcing its partnership with Circle K in April, the company has brought 40 Circle K charging locations online. According to IONNA, usage at those sites has doubled since it took over operations and upgraded them.
CEO Seth Cutler linked the expansion to the network’s first-place customer satisfaction ranking.
“The industry has treated charging scale and charging quality as a tradeoff. Our growth and first-place customer satisfaction ranking show that drivers can and should expect both,” said Seth Cutler, CEO of IONNA. “The IONNA team is focused on delivering quality at scale to enable the sale and adoption of EVs in North America.”
How Do Drivers Use IONNA Without a Proprietary App?
IONNA chose not to build its own app. Instead, drivers reach the network through platforms they already use.
- Partner apps: New integrations with Presto, ChargeHub, and EV Connect, along with the Toyota and Lexus apps, bring the number of supported partner apps to 19.
- Plug & Charge: The feature is now live for Volvo drivers. Support for certain Toyota and Lexus models is expected in October.
- Automaker discounts: Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz now offer IONNA charging discounts through their apps and Plug & Charge, joining BMW and GM. IONNA says the remaining founding automakers will join soon.
Toyota Motor North America, one of the eight founders, commented on the milestone.
“Congratulations to IONNA on their latest achievements,” said Thibaut de Barros Conti, vice president, Business Development, Toyota Motor North America. “IONNA’s agility and customer-centricity align with Toyota’s goals of creating truly world-class experiences and enabling mobility for all.”
Driver Advisory Council and Driver’s Dashboard
IONNA has also formed a Driver Advisory Council made up of voices from the EV community. Kyle Conner of Out of Spec and Tom Moloughney of State of Charge co-captain the group. The council will give structured input on network performance, customer priorities, and future product development.
The council’s first task is gathering feedback on IONNA’s new Driver’s Dashboard. The dashboard shows real-time charging session details without requiring a separate app download, subscription, or login.
