Manufacturers announce 400-station car charging network to boost EV market

A group of major car manufacturers will install 400 charging stations across Europe in an attempt to expand the electric car market.

BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and the Volkswagen Group with Audi and Porsche will develop and implement the network of high-power charging stations. The joint venture, known as Ionity, will install the stations at intervals of 120km to enable long-distance journeys.

So-called “range anxiety” is a key issue for potential buyers wary of running out of power and rolling to a stop miles from their destination. However, average range is increasing and models from companies including Tesla and Renault now reach more than 300km on a single charge.

The “brand agnostic” network will play an essential role in establishing a wider market for electric vehicles, said Ionity chief executive officer Michael Hajesch.

The group will open 20 stations this year on major roads in Germany, Norway and Austria. The network will expand in 2018 to more than 100 stations, reaching 400 across the continent in 2020. Stations will be installed in the UK but details are not currently available, an Ionity spokesman told Professional Engineering.

Multiple customers in different car brands will be able to charge simultaneously. Each charging point will have a capacity of up to 350kW, which fills batteries far quicker than previous standards of lower than 10kW. The stations could charge a Mission E, Porsche’s first fully-electric sports car, to 80% in 15 minutes – reportedly equivalent to a range of 400km.

“The launch of Ionity represents a breakthrough in the move towards a comprehensive rapid charging infrastructure in Europe,” said Porsche CEO Oliver Blume. “Creating a functioning charging infrastructure is necessary for ensuring electromobility is accepted and further expanded. With the rapid charging network from Ionity, we are ensuring that our customers can use electric cars on long journeys without compromising on convenience.”