New 350kW chargers to be added to IONITY network

IONITY network to be bolstered by superfast 350kW chargers from Tritium, promising 220 miles of EV range in 10 minutes

The rollout of a network of 350kW EV chargers across the IONITY charging network promises to “all but eliminate” range anxiety, with the superfast chargers capable of delivering 220 miles of electric range in just 10 minutes. 

Charging company Tritium has signed a deal with IONITY – the joint-venture charging network of BMW, Daimler, Ford and Volkswagen – to provide 350kW superfast electric car chargers across 120 sites across Europe.

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While no current EVs are capable of receiving such a high rate of charge, the move will help futureproof the IONITY network against upcoming EVs, such as the Porsche Taycan, that can be charged at 350kW.

An average of between four and six of Tritium’s Veefil-PK 350kW DC EV rapid chargers will be found at each of the 120 sites across 23 countries, giving IONITY what it says will be the largest and fastest EV charging network in the world. 

Tritium says its 350kW chargers can add 220 miles to a modern electric car’s range in 10 minutes and are compatible with the Combined Charging System (CCS) used by a wide range of manufacturers.

The IONITY sites will have 24/7 remote and on-site support, with drivers having to pay an €8 (£7) fee every time they charge their car there. The installation should be completed by 2020.

The news comes just weeks after BP Chargemaster announced it was to rollout 400 150kW chargers across sites by 2021. 

David Finn, CEO and co-founder of Tritium, said the “sheer number” of chargers across IONITY’s sites would “all but eliminate range anxiety”.

“IONITY has a vision for electric vehicle charging which mirrors ours,” he said. “It’s not just about the speed of the charge, but the experience for customers.

“These chargers will soon be ubiquitous along the highways of Europe and ensure that the increasing number of EV owners across the continent will be able to drive whenever and wherever they want.”

Last year, IONITY made a deal with Shell to install 500 rapid charging points at 80 of the fuel retailer’s European forecourts by 2020. The first eight of these were installed south of Paris last year. Of the 500 total, 44 are set to be installed in the UK, starting in 2019 on the M20 near Maidstone, in Kent.

Do you think more car manufacturers should join forces to help the charging network? Let us know below…

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