Ionity Unveils 600kW Ultra-Fast EV Chargers to Power the Next Generation of Electric Vehicles
The future of electric vehicle (EV) charging in Europe is about to get a serious power boost. Ionity, the high-power charging network backed by major automakers including BMW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen Group, has announced plans to deploy ultra-fast 600kW EV chargers across Europe starting in the second half of this year.
These new chargers—dubbed the HYC1000—represent a major leap forward in EV infrastructure. With charging power far beyond what today’s consumer EVs can handle, the deployment of these stations signals a bold move to support the next generation of ultra-fast charging vehicles.
“We’re working closely with several automotive manufacturers and expect to see a growing number of EVs capable of ultra-high charging speeds in the coming years,” an Ionity spokesperson said. “Our upcoming infrastructure is designed to meet those future needs, enabling a significant leap in charging convenience and performance.”
While Ionity has yet to disclose the specific launch locations or the number of HYC1000 stations going live in 2025 and 2026, the company’s long-term ambitions are clear. By 2030, Ionity plans to expand its network from the current 750 sites to more than 1,300 locations across Europe, and grow the total number of chargers from 5,000 to around 13,000—boosting both the number and capacity of each site.
The new 600kW chargers, developed by Italian manufacturer Alpitronic, are currently undergoing testing near the company’s headquarters in Munich. According to Ionity, the system can deliver up to 300 kilometers (186 miles) of driving range in just 8 minutes—a game-changing development that could redefine the EV ownership experience.
Although no consumer EVs on the market today can fully utilize 600kW charging, the system’s high output will be dynamically shared between multiple vehicles, optimizing charging sessions across various use cases.
Meanwhile, automakers are actively pushing the limits of EV charging capability. Volvo’s upcoming ES90 flagship electric sedan will support up to 350kW fast charging, enabling it to gain 300km of range in just 10 minutes. It can also charge from 10% to 80% in about 20 minutes—a 30% improvement over the brand’s EX90 SUV launched last year.
Chinese EV manufacturers are also stepping up. XPeng, for instance, has introduced the G9 SUV, which supports 600kW ultra-fast charging with a 79kWh battery and 5C charging architecture. In real-world third-party tests using a 600kW liquid-cooled charger, the G9 charged from 9% to 90% State of Charge (SoC) in just 17 minutes and 26 seconds, peaking at 312kW. Additional test results include:
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SOC 20%–80%: Average 279kW, 11 min 09 sec
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SOC 20%–90%: Average 243kW, 14 min 56 sec
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Energy delivered in 10 minutes: 46.77kWh
As the race toward ultra-fast EV charging intensifies, we can expect more models to support charging levels of 600kW and beyond, making long-distance travel and rapid top-ups more practical than ever before.
