The first concept video of the IONITY charging station – the Volkswagen Group, BMW Group, Daimler AG, and Ford Motor Company’s response to Tesla’s Supercharger network – has been released, giving an idea of the design and features that the rumored 350 kW charging stations would adopt.
The reveal of the IONITY chargers came in time for the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show, an event that has seen the reveal of numerous electric car concepts from legacy automakers such as Volkswagen and BMW. According to a press release on the unveiling of the IONITY concept, the design of the chargers in the teaser video would be adopted for the upcoming Pan-European High-Power Charging Network. A rather creative description of the charger was included in IONITY’s press release.
“As if it were floating, the light box sits like a roof over the slender vertical pylon, giving the charging station the appearance of a beacon, an effect, which is particularly striking at night. In keeping with the character of EMobility, the station’s architecture conveys an open, light and warm sense of space.”
“Crisp, simple structures and surfaces, smart interfaces and a mixture of robust, lightweight materials merge together into a seamless ‘charging experience.’ In keeping with the IONITY logo, the colors represent the flow of energy during the charging process as depicted by the charge status.”
One thing that definitely sticks out from the design of IONITY’s stations is the charger’s clean and sleek appearance. Just like Tesla’s Superchargers, the German automaker’s stations look futuristic, with the chargers being activated by what appears to be a sensor on its frame. This was noticed by members of the online forum community, many of whom are speculating that the sensors on the IONITY charger would respond to mobile devices with NFC and RFID cards.
While IONITY’s design is quite impressive, it remains to be seen if the charging system could indeed provide vehicles such as the Porsche Mission E with 350 kWh of output when plugged in. So far, only concept videos of IONITY have ben released; thus, no real-world demonstrations featuring an electric vehicle using the upcoming charging infrastructure are available. With its expected 350 kW of output, however, Porsche’s claim of charging the Mission E with 248 miles worth of range in just 15 minutes is feasible.
Overall, it is encouraging to see that legacy automakers from both Europe and the United States are coming together to come up with a system that can rival Tesla’s dominating Supercharger network. As we noted in a previous report, the vast, worldwide system of fast chargers, which enable Tesla’s vehicles to gain hundreds of miles of range in as little as 30 minutes, has become one of Tesla’s biggest aces against its rivals in the electric car industry. Thus, the upcoming release of Supercharger rivals such as IONITY bodes well for CEO Elon Musk, whose primary goal for Tesla is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable transportation.
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Haha, John, I’d give you a pessimistic rating if there was one... ;)
Seriously, with the amount of EVs EU carmakers plan to commercialize by 2020-2022, I see no reason why it should last that long at least in Europe.
You have more faith in traditional car manufacturers and the FF industry than I do, and you may be right, but I'll bet you a coffee (and bragging rights) that their recharge system is still woefully inadequate in 2022.
By 2020, the magic year for EVs?... ;)
Michael, I'm like you (although from France too, but Paris...).
Most will have to be ready by 2020 that will be THE YEAR for Long Range EVs market explosion, with first credible competition coming for Tesla (I count out the mee-too Jaguar F-Pace and Audi eTron comming this year but only partially matching what Tesla has provided for 4 years, and still missing the Supercharger infrastructure that Tesla has completed for 2 years here in Europe, and are now doubling for Model 3 intro next year). Bet it will also be the year when Tesla will announce their V2 versions of Model S & X, hopefully with Tesla Roadster2 like 200kWh battery pack and Tesla Truck like MegaCharger plug.... Run run run competition Tesla will catch you all !
I'm a Tesla lover but I must admit this car or at least it's look can compare with the Ferrari of this world. As far as be on the market for real I'm pretty sure the Tesla will be first on a larger scale. I don't think they will produce enough to be a challenge to Tesla 2-seater. and if Tesla losing money on each car how much do you think this company will lose...
Are you referring to the Porsche Mission E?
Only explanation for me could be the SOD number that starts at 72% and ends at 97%, displayed at the top that is not clear. If real State Of Charge percentage, it would explain half the power, means 170kW vs 350kW, to protect the battery at this SOD, but strange the Amps do not change between 72% and 97%, as for Tesla SuperChargers at 70% you would drop <50% power but at 97% you would be <10% to further protect the battery. Still this is suspect, why the hell would they show this instead of expected 350kW, showing a charge between 10% and 50% SOD where Tesla Superchargers charge at maximum power available for the stall, means 437 Amps at 800 Volts ?
I really long to see a Real 800 Volts / 350 kW end to end charge on a Mission E Test mule.
Look at the App screenshot and in the video. It does not give the Volts nor the Watts but gives the Amps for the charge. And that is a # stable 213 Amps, that multiplied by 800V (Assuming an HPC350 charge) only makes 170kW !!!! ...
There is any number of explanations, one of which is it could be near the full charge of the battery and is in the taper down mode. I don't think a snapshot of the charger display has any proof that it is operating at peak capacity.
What we don't see is a timetable of locations with a build target. There is still NO COMMITMENT to have this IONITY recharge system operational any time soon.
By 2020, the magic year for EVs?... ;)
By 2020, the magic year for EVs?... ;)
Perhaps by 2025 ... they have a 10 year window to spend the VW Dieselgate funds on this system. Meanwhile expect a few well publicized ones in dealerships etc.
Perhaps by 2025 ... they have a 10 year window to spend the VW Dieselgate funds on this system. Meanwhile expect a few well publicized ones in dealerships etc.
Haha, John, I’d give you a pessimistic rating if there was one... ;)
Seriously, with the amount of EVs EU carmakers plan to commercialize by 2020-2022, I see no reason why it should last that long at least in Europe.
You have more faith in traditional car manufacturers and the FF industry than I do, and you may be right, but I'll bet you a coffee (and bragging rights) that their recharge system is still woefully inadequate in 2022.
Deal. Coffee will be waiting for you here in SW France .
Flights at your expenses... :D
To me this sounds like just another Marketing HYPE video, as if for now they only had the (beautiful) location drawings and no real charging demo was conducted for real on these superb charging stalls.
I just hope techies who know what they are talking about, will join soon and present REAL THINGS, like an end to end 800V charging session on a base Mission E, or an even better Geneva presented Shooting Brake Mission E, test mule.
Again I wish them good luck but long to see real things and less marketers who never touched a Long EV themselves....
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Note that, in the complementary article on Ionity plans, embedded in this other report on Dutch group FastNed’a ‘hyperchargers’... (175-350 kW), you can find a mention of 400 Ionity charging stations across Europe by.... 2020!! (;) @Pat Free !)
This is a super start on a recharge system. .... now to see how long it takes them to place these every 200 km all over.
(2022 or sooner v 2025 or later)
