IONITY charging network guide

Network overview

IONITY's mission is simple: make cross-border EV travel in Europe effortless. Every site uses 100% renewable energy and standard CCS connectors at up to 350 kW, so any modern EV with 800V architecture (Porsche Taycan, Hyundai Ioniq 5/6, Kia EV6, Audi e-tron GT) can charge at full speed. IONITY's tight motorway placement makes it the default backbone for road-tripping in continental Europe.

What makes IONITY stand out

• ▸100% renewable energy across all sites
• ▸350 kW HPC for 800V EVs
• ▸Motorway-only — built for long journeys
• ▸Plug-and-charge ISO 15118 support

Countries served and coverage

IONITY operates across United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Portugal, with notable presence in Munich, Paris, Milan, London, Madrid, Amsterdam, Vienna, Zurich. UK IONITY sites cluster around the M25, M40 (Beaconsfield, Cherwell Valley) and M6 (Charnock Richard). In France the A6 Paris–Lyon corridor has IONITY at Auxerre, Beaune and Macon. The A7 Lyon–Marseille route adds Montélimar and Aix-en-Provence. Italy's A1 Milan–Florence–Rome has sites at Fiorenzuola, Secchia Ovest and Magliano Sabina; the A4 Milan–Venice adds Brescia and Verona. For city access from the motorway network plan a final urban-grade hop on Shell Recharge or BP Pulse.

Maximum charging speed and connectors

Peak power on the IONITY network reaches Up to 350 kW on the latest hardware. Supported connectors: CCS2. Real-world charge speed depends on your vehicle's on-board charging limit, battery state-of-charge and cell temperature — pre-conditioning the pack before arrival typically adds 20–40 kW of sustained throughput.

Pricing model

IONITY runs two tariffs. Pay-as-you-go costs €0.79/kWh in most of Europe and £0.69/kWh in the UK. The IONITY Passport subscription costs €5.99 or €11.99/month and drops the rate to €0.35–€0.49/kWh — break-even is around 12 kWh per month (one 60% charge on a mid-size EV). Members of partner brands (Porsche Charging Service, Audi e-tron Charging Service, Mercedes me Charge, BMW Charging) get the discounted Passport rate baked into their factory subscription. No idle fees, no roaming markup, no contactless surcharge.

App and contactless requirements

Every IONITY stall ships with a contactless card reader — tap any Visa, Mastercard or Amex to start. The IONITY app gives live availability, plug-and-charge for ISO 15118-equipped cars, and one-tap session start. Roaming via Shell Recharge, Chargemap, NewMotion and Plugsurfing all work but add a 10–25% markup, so the IONITY app or contactless is always the cheapest path.

Reliability and uptime

IONITY publishes a public uptime dashboard that has trended above 98% since 2023. Sites are over-provisioned (6 to 12 stalls per location) and use rugged ABB Terra HPC hardware with active liquid cooling on the cables. The 350 kW peak is held even in 30 °C ambient, and the network rarely throttles below 200 kW for 800-volt EVs.

Best use case

IONITY is the gold standard for European long-distance road trips on 800-volt EVs. A Kia EV6 or Hyundai Ioniq 5 will hit a full 233 kW peak and complete 10–80% in 18 minutes — fast enough that a single coffee stop covers another 300 km. Less ideal for urban driving (sites are exclusively at motorway service areas) and overkill for 400-volt EVs that cap at 150–175 kW. The killer combo is Paris–Milan via the A6/A7/A26 in 8 hours, three IONITY stops, all under €30 with Passport.

Compatible vehicles

Every CCS2 EV in Europe is compatible with IONITY. The network shines on 800-volt platforms — Porsche Taycan, Audi e-tron GT, Hyundai Ioniq 5/6, Kia EV6, Genesis GV60 — that can sustain 230–270 kW for 15 minutes. 400-volt EVs like Tesla Model 3/Y, BYD Atto 3, MG4 and Renault Megane E-Tech also work; they cap at their on-board limit (150–250 kW peak, typically 100–150 kW average).

Pros and cons at a glance

Frequently asked questions

Do I need the IONITY app?

No. Every stall has a contactless card reader — tap any bank card to start. The app or Passport subscription is cheaper but never required.

What does IONITY Passport cost?

€11.99/month (€5.99 in some markets) for the full Passport tier, which drops the rate from €0.79 to around €0.35–€0.49/kWh. Break-even is about 12 kWh per month.

Can a Tesla Model Y use IONITY?

Yes, with the CCS2 adapter or native CCS2 port. You'll see 170 kW peak (vehicle-limited) and 10–80% in around 27 minutes.

Is IONITY available in the UK?

Yes, with sites mostly along the M25, M40 and M6. UK Passport pricing matches EU at around £0.39/kWh.

Does IONITY work in Italy?

Yes — IONITY runs sites along the A1 (Milan–Rome), A4 (Milan–Venice) and A14 (Bologna–Bari). Coverage is excellent in the north and centre, thinner in the south.

Is IONITY 100% renewable?

Yes. Every IONITY site is contractually supplied with 100% renewable electricity, primarily wind and hydro.

Can I roam onto IONITY with another app?

Yes — Shell Recharge, Chargemap, NewMotion and Plugsurfing all work, but they add a 10–25% markup over IONITY's direct rate.