Meet IONNA at the Wawa in Chadds Ford
Energy is the hot topic du jour, so how about we dabble in electrons through the lens of life in Chadds Ford. Enjoy this pop-up series, Energy in Chadds Ford, exploring conversations about energy in our neck of the woods.
Have you seen the construction fencing at the Wawa on the corner of Route 202 and Naaman’s Creek Road? Wondering what’s up? I’ve got an idea. 🚗
Our local Wawa looks like it’s going to be one of the newest locations for IONNA, a burgeoning electric vehicle charging company that is a joint venture between seven major automakers and looking to be best-in-class in the electric vehicle charging space.
Isn’t the US scaling back on EV production?
Yes, sort of. But the rest of the world is most definitely not! And when the global car market takes a hard turn into electrification, US car companies will be running on fumes to stay relevant if they don’t follow suit. Wait until people in the US see the super cheap, high-performing Chinese EVs already available in Mexico and Canada. I think we’re gonna hear a lot of “Why can’t I have that??!“
I shared a few reasons recently why I think EVs are coming for our gas-guzzling cars, despite recent pullbacks in EV production for the United States market by several car companies. The significant investment and rapid growth of IONNA is another step towards electric vehicle proliferation, even in engine-roaring, gasoline-loving ‘Merica. The United States might not be ready for a flurry of Ford F-150 Lightning pickup trucks right now. But it’s clear car companies are still invested in the long-term transition to electric vehicles in our country.
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What’s different about IONNA?
IONNA recognizes that we need a more reliable, affordable, and comfortable charging infrastructure to see mass EV adoption. I haven’t tried IONNA chargers yet, but I can attest to many other brand experiences ranging from stellar to absolutely lousy. It’s unpredictable, which is a problem.
The Rivian Network is really great but not that dense. Tesla is great for Teslas. It’s mostly great for non-Teslas, though some busier charging stations aren’t open to non-Tesla vehicles. They also significantly reduced their investment in expanding charging infrastructure (maybe Elon got bored with a maturing business and moved on to AI, robotics, and rockets). Electrify America is the next-best option in my experience, but it’s still not reliable enough for mainstream adoption. Everything else is… we don’t use them because they can’t be counted on consistently.
IONNA is focused on facilities that offer an excellent customer experience: comfortable geographic density, charging reliability on par with gas station pumps, reasonable pricing, canopies where possible, good lighting, trash cans, and amenities to enjoy while you’re waiting for the vehicle to charge. All of their charging stations are paired with existing convenience stores (like Wawa or Sheetz) or built next to one of their Rechargeries.
Once we can tackle the uncertainty around charging away from home, I think many more people will feel at peace choosing a fast, fun electric vehicle when it’s time to drive home with a new (or new-to-them) car. Did you know the used EV market is on fire right now? ❤️🔥
We get to see one of the first of thousands of IONNA recharging stations as they quickly spread across the country. The company currently has about 150 locations (about 1,300 charging bays) and plans to expand to 30,000 by 2030. Chadds Ford will be an early home to this growth, and it’s paired with beloved Wawa. Kind of cool, huh?
Here’s yet another entry point towards an electrified transportation future for America. ⚡
