Daily EV news · US · 1 October 2026
EV Charging
Ionna CEO says charging infrastructure must turn profit or EVs will fail
Seth Cutler, chief executive of Ionna, the charging joint venture backed by eight automakers including BMW, Mercedes, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Stellantis and Toyota, told The Drivecast that the network must reach financial independence and profitability over time. Ionna has signed partnerships with Circle K, Wawa, Sheetz and Casey's and has purchased land to build out its US network, funded by undisclosed capital from its automotive backers.
Why it matters
The statement underscores a shift in charging deployment strategy, with major OEMs now treating infrastructure as a standalone profit centre rather than a loss making enabler. Procurement teams and site hosts can expect Ionna to prioritise commercially viable locations and partnerships that deliver returns, potentially narrowing the geographic spread of publicly funded or lower margin rollouts.
Colorado reaches 83 per cent highway coverage within 30 miles of DC fast chargers, up from 40 per cent in 2020
Colorado now has nearly 500 fast charging stations, with 83 per cent of state highways within 30 miles of a DC fast charger, more than double the 40 per cent coverage six years ago, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. The state is targeting similar coverage on federal highways through new funding rounds. New battery electric vehicle registrations fell 55 per cent in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, per the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association.
Why it matters
The milestone demonstrates how sustained public investment can build out charging networks in commercially challenging rural corridors ahead of demand. The sharp drop in EV sales despite improved infrastructure highlights the disconnect between network readiness and consumer adoption, a risk for CPOs banking on utilisation growth.
Belleville Schools open 20 public EV chargers funded by New Jersey state and utility grants
Belleville Public School District in New Jersey has opened 20 electric vehicle charging stations across school sites and other facilities for public use during non-school hours, with fees applied. The project was funded through two sources: NJDEP and EZ Ride covered the charger hardware, while PSE&G's Charging Incentive Program paid for the electrical infrastructure. District officials said the initiative leverages external funding to add community amenities while advancing sustainability goals.
Why it matters
The project demonstrates how US school districts can deploy publicly accessible charging infrastructure by stacking state environmental grants with utility incentive programmes, creating a replicable funding model. For charge point operators and equipment suppliers, education sector sites represent an emerging channel where capital costs are offset and host sites gain ancillary revenue from fee-based public access.
IONNA charging network more than doubles to 180 US locations, tops JD Power study
IONNA, the charging network backed by eight automakers including Toyota, has expanded to more than 180 live public charging locations across the United States, more than double the number at the start of 2026. The network, which operates the largest 400 kW public charging infrastructure in the US, ranked first in the 2026 JD Power US Electric Vehicle Experience Public Charging Study for rapid deployment and charging experience quality. Over 40 locations have been deployed to Circle K convenience stores since a partnership was announced in April, with discounted memberships offered to customers of participating automakers including BMW, GM, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz.
Why it matters
The rapid scaling of a multi-OEM charging network with high power output and retail partnerships demonstrates a viable model for CPOs seeking anchor tenants and site hosts evaluating co-location opportunities. IONNA's JD Power recognition and doubling of sites in under a year signals competitive pressure on independent networks to match deployment pace and user experience standards.
Tesla Supercharger leads JD Power satisfaction rankings as DC fast charger failure rates fall to 12 per cent
The JD Power 2026 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Public Charging Study shows overall customer satisfaction with DC fast chargers has risen substantially, with station failure rates dropping to an all time low of 12 per cent. Tesla Supercharger scored 701 points out of 1,000, placing fourth and well above the segment average of 666 points, while ChargePoint ranked lowest at 583 points, followed by EVgo at 601 points and Electrify America at 616 points. The study highlights that automaker backed networks are raising industry standards, with ChargePoint trailing due to inconsistent maintenance across independently hosted sites.
Why it matters
Falling failure rates and rising satisfaction scores signal improving reliability across public DC fast charging networks, a key factor for CPOs competing in tenders and for fleet operators evaluating charging partners. The performance gap between Tesla and legacy networks like ChargePoint and Electrify America underscores the operational advantage of vertically integrated charging ecosystems.
Hawaiian Electric reports commercial EV charging doubled to 6.4 gigawatt hours in first half of 2026
Hawaiian Electric recorded a sharp rise in EV charging across its service areas during the first six months of 2026, with commercial sites including shopping centres, big box retailers and NEVI locations more than doubling electricity use from 3.1 gigawatt hours to 6.4 gigawatt hours year on year. The utility's 26 fast charging sites saw a 20 per cent increase, from 1.1 gigawatt hours to 1.3 gigawatt hours, over the same period. The figures, released during National Drive Electric Month, exclude home charging and reflect growing EV adoption and network availability in Hawaii.
Why it matters
The doubling of commercial charging demand signals robust site utilisation and validates investment in retail and NEVI funded infrastructure, offering procurement teams and charge point operators evidence of strong revenue potential in Hawaii's island market. Fast charger throughput growth of 20 per cent also underscores the need for continued capacity planning at Hawaiian Electric's own network.
Geely deploys 2.2 MW ultra-fast chargers across five Chinese cities within one week
Chinese EV maker Geely has installed 2.2 megawatt ultra-fast chargers in Hangzhou, Shanghai, Ningbo, Jiaxing and Xi'an within a week of unveiling the technology, according to Electrek on 30 September. The system operates at 1,500 volts and 1,500 amps using two charging heads that split the power, enabling charging in under 5 minutes, and Geely plans to build 15,000 charging hubs by the end of next year. The company raised output from 1.5 MW in March to 2.2 MW in approximately 6 months and applied an advanced thermal management algorithm to reduce battery degradation.
Why it matters
The rapid commercial deployment of megawatt-class charging infrastructure in China demonstrates the speed at which Asian markets are scaling ultra-fast charging networks, setting a benchmark for rollout velocity that Western CPOs and procurement teams must consider when planning their own infrastructure timelines and technical specifications.
Electric Vehicles
Bangalore meet brings 20 EV owners together to share real-world range, charging and service experiences
A community gathering in Bangalore featured 20 electric vehicle owners discussing practical ownership issues including actual range, charging infrastructure, maintenance costs and service quality across multiple brands and battery sizes. The YouTube video from EVolution-Nick documented the event, which aimed to provide prospective buyers with unfiltered feedback beyond manufacturer marketing claims. Organisers described the data as authentic because participants had no brand allegiance.
Why it matters
Real-world user feedback on charging reliability and service networks helps procurement teams and charge point operators understand the operational pain points that influence fleet adoption decisions and infrastructure planning in emerging EV markets.