Hyundai and Kia join Ionity

Hyundai and Kia have joined the Ionity European EV charging venture established by BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and the Volkswagen Group with Porsche AG in 2017.

Under the agreement Hyundai and Kia, affiliated automotive companies for Hyundai Motor Group, will play a key role in further enhancing the availability of EV charging stations with additional benefits for its customers.

Starting in 2021, Hyundai and Kia EVs will be equipped with 800-volt combined charging systems (CCS) to accommodate Ionity’s maximum charging power of 350kW. Customers will be able to use Ionity’s high powered charging facilities, which are equipped with digital payment options, to significantly reduce charging times and better facilitate long-distance travel.

Ionity has nearly 140 charging stations operating in Europe with 50 more under construction and aims to have 400 by 2020, with an average of at least one site every 120km along major European highways.

“Our participation in this joint venture reaffirms the group’s commitment to future electromobility,” Hyundai Motor Group product division head and executive vice president Thomas Schemera says.

“I am confident that our work with Ionity will open a new era of high-power charging experiences, where charging will be seamless and easier than refueling for our customers.”

In May, the group announced a partnership with Croatia’s Rimac Automobili for development of high-performance EVs.

The group will obtain equal shares in Ionity as those of the founding partners.