IONNA reportedly has plans to set up at least 5,000 charging locations across 20 countries by the end of 2025. Now, the name Tesla is missing from the equation, or at least from the press material, but the brand and its EV are fundamentally a part of the announcement owing to the inherent charging tech. So, where does this leave Tesla cars? “IONNA’s charging network will be accessible to all electric vehicles with NACS or CCS connectors,” says the consortium. Thanks to NACS compatibility, Tesla cars will be able to theoretically access the IONNA network, even though Tesla doesn’t appear to be financially participating in the project.
As far as the name goes, pundits are speculating that IONNA is a take on Ionity charger network in Europe, with IONNA possibly being an abbreviation for “Ion North America,” or short for Ion NA. Naming conundrum aside, it appears that IONNA isn’t focused solely on building an expansive network. Instead, the consortium is also promising facilities like “restrooms, food service, and retail operations nearby or within the same complex, digital integration and appealing locations,” according to the press announcement. If that sounds familiar, well, it’s because IONNA is chasing the same formula as Mercedes-Benz. The Mercedes-Benz Charging Hub also touts niceties like restrooms, vending machines, sitting areas, weather canopy, proximity to Buc-ee’s locations, and of course, a super fast charging experience.
