IONNA, Joint-Venture EV Charging Network, Begins Operations

IONNA, a joint venture involving seven major automakers, has recently announced the commencement of operations for its high-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging network across North America. Led by Seth Cutler as CEO, the venture aims to establish a robust infrastructure to facilitate the widespread adoption of EVs.

The joint venture includes the following automakers: BMW, General Motors (GM), Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis.

The network, accessible to all electric vehicles with NACS or CCS connectors, promises a seamless and convenient charging experience. IONNA‘s charging stations will be strategically located and powered by renewable energy sources, aligning with sustainability goals. Additionally, amenities such as restrooms, food services, and retail options will be available at select locations, enhancing the overall customer experience.

IONNA plans to integrate its charging network with participating automakers’ in-vehicle and in-app experiences, offering features like reservations, route planning, and payment applications. The venture aims to deploy at least 30,000 high-powered charging stations across North America by the end of the decade, with initial rollout expected in the United States in 2024 and expansion into Canada later on.

Cutler brings a wealth of experience in electric mobility and charging to shape the joint venture right from the start. In his role as Senior Vice President of Technical Operations at EV Connect, Cutler drastically expanded the network of charging station manufacturers. Most recently serving as the president and chief operations officer, he started several initiatives to transform the company from a ‘start-up’ to a ‘scale-up’ phase.

Before joining EV Connect, Cutler took the lead in engineering, orchestrating the development and implementation of a high-powered charging network as Chief Engineer in the early phase of Electrify America. He started his career at General Electric (GE), where his versatile roles included that of General Manager of EV Infrastructure. In this capacity, he focused on the development, manufacturing and deployment of charging stations, contributing significantly to GE’s footprint in the electric mobility sector.

“The shared commitment to creating an extensive, high-powered charging network reflects our dedication to revolutionizing the entire EV charging experience and helping to drive widespread EV adoption,” said Seth Cutler, CEO of IONNA.