One hundred sites in, this is no longer a press release
The Ionna charging network passed 100 live locations in March 2026, around its second anniversary — and the pace since then suggests the venture is done warming up. As of July 2026, nearly 1,000 bays are active nationwide, with more than 4,700 contracted and roughly 1,500 under construction, according to figures reported by Axios and Green Car Reports.
That matters because Ionna is not another charging startup running on venture capital and optimism. It was founded in 2023 by BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and Toyota — eight automakers that concluded waiting for someone else to build reliable fast charging was costing them EV sales. Rivian came aboard as a partner in 2025.
The stated goal is blunt: 30,000 high-speed bays across the US by 2030. Hit that number and Ionna becomes a genuine second backbone for American road-trip charging, standing alongside Tesla's Supercharger network rather than in its shadow.
What an Ionna stop actually gets you
Ionna's hardware is the headline act. Its 400 kW chargers are among the fastest installed in the US, and each dispenser offers both NACS and CCS plugs. That dual-connector approach is quietly important. As NACS becomes the standard across the industry, millions of existing EVs still wear CCS ports — Ionna serves both without forcing anyone through the adapter lottery.
The company brands its flagship locations as "Rechargeries" — destinations, rather than a pair of dispensers behind a big-box store. Ionna expects to exceed 200 Rechargery locations with over 2,000 bays by the end of 2026, which would double its March footprint in under a year.
The practical upshot: more high-power plugs in more places, backed by companies with an existential interest in the chargers actually working. If you are shopping now, read up on EVs with the best charging network access — the gap between networks is narrowing fast.
Why eight rivals built one network
Automakers do not usually share infrastructure with the competition. That eight of them — nine counting Rivian — pooled resources here tells you how seriously they took the charging problem. Public fast charging has long been the weakest link in the EV ownership case: too few stalls, too many broken ones, and one dominant network that historically favored its own vehicles.
Ionna's answer is scale with shared ownership. The contracted pipeline of more than 4,700 bays gives it committed real estate well beyond what is live today, and roughly 1,500 bays under construction show the build machine is running. A planned $250 million investment in California — reported by Utility Dive — targets the single largest EV market in the country.
There is also a defensive logic. With NACS adoption sweeping the industry, the founding automakers needed assurance that the charging experience for their customers would not depend entirely on a competitor's goodwill. Ionna is that insurance policy, poured in concrete.
The honest assessment
Credit where due: crossing 100 sites and nearly 1,000 live bays in about two years is real progress in an industry littered with charging promises that never left the rendering stage. The dual NACS/CCS hardware and 400 kW peak speeds are exactly what road-trippers need.
But perspective is required. A thousand bays is still a small fraction of what the largest incumbent networks operate, and contracted sites are not built sites — permits, utility hookups and construction timelines have humbled every charging operator before Ionna. The 2030 target of 30,000 bays demands a build rate far beyond anything achieved so far, and the company's own end-of-2026 forecast of 2,000+ bays is expected rather than guaranteed. Ionna is a credible challenger with serious backers. It is not yet a finished network, and buyers should plan around what exists today, not the 2030 map.
The questions buyers actually ask
Can any EV use the Ionna charging network? Broadly, yes. Ionna's dispensers carry both NACS and CCS connectors, so most modern EVs can plug in without an adapter. Check your car's port type and charging curve before relying on any single network — our advice on how to compare public charging networks covers the details.
How fast are Ionna's chargers? The hardware supports up to 400 kW, among the quickest in the US. Your actual session speed depends on your vehicle's maximum charge rate, battery temperature and state of charge.
Will Ionna really hit 30,000 bays by 2030? That is the target, supported by 4,700+ contracted bays, roughly 1,500 under construction and a planned $250 million California investment. It is an ambitious ramp, and as of mid-2026 it remains a goal, not a certainty.
Key takeaways
- The Ionna charging network passed 100 live locations in March 2026, near its second anniversary.
- Nearly 1,000 bays are active, with 4,700+ contracted and about 1,500 under construction as of July 2026.
- Founded in 2023 by eight automakers — BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and Toyota — with Rivian partnering from 2025.
- Chargers deliver up to 400 kW and carry both NACS and CCS plugs.
- Targets: 200+ Rechargery locations with 2,000+ bays by the end of 2026, and 30,000 bays by 2030, including a planned $250M California investment.
Sources & further reading
- Company milestone announcements and reporting from NACS/convenience.org, Axios, Green Car Reports and Utility Dive, March–July 2026
Figures, prices and policy details were current at the last-updated date above. Automotive pricing, incentives and regulations change frequently — verify time-sensitive details with the linked primary sources. Read our editorial policy and fact-checking standards.
