Key facts
- Ionna, an EV fast-charging network backed by eight automakers, plans to train dealership staff.
- The training program aims to boost EV adoption by educating sales personnel.
- Ionna has grown its US charging stations from 90 in January to 191 by October.
- Tesla operates over 3,000 charging stations in the US.
- JD Power ranked Ionna's stations as the best fast-charging in the country in its 2026 test.
Ionna, an electric vehicle fast-charging network supported by eight major automakers, is preparing to launch a program to educate dealership staff on selling EVs and their charging capabilities. CEO Seth Cutler believes this initiative is critical to overcoming a persistent barrier to EV adoption.
Cutler stated that while automakers have focused on improving EV technology, reliable public charging infrastructure has lagged. He aims for Ionna to "enable EV adoption" by addressing this gap. The company is working to expand its network, which has grown from 90 stations in January to 191 by early October, with the 200th location expected to open this month. This expansion, however, still significantly trails Tesla's network of over 3,000 US stations.
Ionna is also competing with other entities like Walmart, which is building out its own charging network. The company has focused on pairing its charging stations with amenities such as lounges and convenience stores, and its stations were ranked best for fast-charging by JD Power in 2026. Despite automakers scaling back some EV offerings due to cooling sales, Cutler remains optimistic, comparing the current EV market to the early days of flat-screen televisions, which became more accessible as production scaled.