Open charging network to roll out across Europe
The new company, headquartered in Munich, has started operations. Michael Hajesch (CEO) and Marcus Groll (COO) take over the management of the joint venture (JV). The availability of a nationwide high-power charging network is essential for the market penetration of electromobility. The founding of IONITY is an important milestone, which shows that the car manufacturers are joining forces to achieve this goal. “With the creation of the first pan-European high-power charging (HPC) network, we are making electromobility suitable for long-distance travel,” says Michael Hajesch.
By 2020, IONITY plans to set up and operate a total of around 400 fast charging stations usng the 350kW European Combined Charging System (CCS) format. The first twenty stations will be built in 2017, on motorways and major traffic arteries in Germany, Norway and Austria, among others. They will be open to the public and will be located at a distance of about 120 kilometers from each other. IONITY relies on cooperation with partners such as Tank & Rast, Circle K and OMV and benefits from their locations.
Europe-wide scaling to over one hundred rapid charging stations is planned for 2018. Each of the quick charging stations will have several charging stations. This will give customers access to thousands of HPC charging points by 2020, regardless of brand and performance. The charging capacity of up to 350 kW per charging point enables vehicles designed for this purpose to charge significantly shorter times than currently available systems. The openness of the system and its Europe-wide distribution will help to significantly increase the acceptance of electric vehicles.
The IONITY network is to be implemented with a focus on the choice of location based on customer requirements. Another focus is on intelligent linking with existing loading solutions. To this end, IONITY is in intensive exchange with existing infrastructure initiatives. By investing in the development of the IONITY network, the participating car manufacturers are bundling their commitment to electromobility. In addition, the alliance is building on cross-industry and international cooperation and strong partnerships.
The founding partners BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and the Volkswagen Group with Audi and Porsche will participate in the JV in equal shares. Other car manufacturers are welcome to actively participate in the expansion of the HPC network. The IONITY team will comprise around 50 employees at the beginning of 2018 and will be gradually expanded.
More information can be found at www.ionity.eu
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