ABB chargers power IONITY’s opening of Europe’s highway of the future

14-08-2018

ABB has been selected by IONITY as the main technology partner and supplier. ABB's Terra High Power electric-vehicle chargers enable launch of IONITY service station on the A2 motorway in Switzerland.

IONITY, which plans to build a network of electric-vehicle service stations across Europe to make long trips as feasible for electric vehicles as for fossil-fueled vehicles, today opened its first station – in Neuenkirch, Switzerland on the A2 motorway.

The station, a pilot project near Lucerne, features six of ABB’s most advanced high-speed chargers, the Terra HP. The 350kW Terra HP chargers can recharge for 200 km in just eight minutes. By 2020, IONITY plans to operate a network of approximately 400 fast charging stations across 24 European countries.

IONITY is a joint venture of BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and the Volkswagen Group with Audi and Porsche. After successful initial installations, ABB has been selected as the main technology partner and supplier for charging systems by IONITY. There will be a significant initial roll-out already by the end of 2018.

ABB, synonymous with electric-transportation breakthroughs during its 130-year history, has become a global leader in connected DC charging systems for electric vehicles. Approximately 7,000 ABB DC chargers are now installed in more than 60 countries.

Michael Hajesch, Managing Director at IONITY, said he is “glad to have a strong and international technology partner with ABB to drive e-Mobility to the next level across Europe”.

Frank Muehlon, Managing Director for electric vehicle charging infrastructure at ABB added: “This is a truly landmark European launch and one which we are honored to have been chosen to support, particularly with the first pilot site opening in ABB’s home country of Switzerland. We already have approximately 7,000 connected, DC fast charging stations installed worldwide and with this launch we are delighted to be partnering with IONITY to bring high-performance, sustainable e-mobility to the masses across Europe.“

IONITY is among the ambitious charging networks taking shape in Europe and elsewhere. In the United States, ABB has been selected to supply its Terra HP charging stations for deployment by Electrify America, which plans to place hundreds of charging stations within and around 17 metropolitan areas and along multiple nationwide highway corridors.

The ABB Terra HP chargers at the IONITY station in Neuenkirch are the first with liquid-cooled cables to be installed in Europe. The Neuenkirch chargers employ the CCS charging format, one of the main industry standards. Terra HPs can also support the CHAdeMO DC fast charging standard.

The total market for electrically chargeable vehicles in the European Union (EU) and EFTA (European Free Trade Association) expanded by 38.7 percent in 2017 alone*, demonstrating the substantial need for investment in high-performance infrastructure to mobilize the growing generation of e-drivers in long-distance travel.

The first pilot site in Switzerland was planned, engineered and built by Alpiq, a leading Swiss energy company and the largest energy service provider with a focus on European markets.

E-mobility leadership

As an innovator and provider of a wide range of products and solutions in sustainable electric mobility, ABB is a logical partner for IONITY.

ABB’s product portfolio includes charging technologies for electric cars, buses and trucks, as well as solutions for the electrification of ships, railways and cable cars.

ABB’s e-mobility leadership is also demonstrated by its partnership with Formula E, the world’s first fully electric international FIA motorsport series. The ABB FIA Formula E Championship series provides a platform to test e-mobility electrification and digitalization technologies in the crucible of competitive racing. Together, ABB and Formula E are ideally positioned to push the boundaries of e-mobility.

* European Automobile Manufacturers Association