A conversation with Seth Cutler of IONNA.
David Roberts, August 14th
Local Ionna: under construction 940 S Riverside Ave Medford,
Seth Cutler is CEO of IONNA, a joint venture of eight automakers building a public EV fast-charging network across the US. Its pitch is reliability plus amenities — a modern take on the gas station. We talk about what went wrong with public charging 1.0, the economics of fast charging in a down market, how utilities and demand charges shape the business, and whether charging can become something drivers don’t have to think about.
Charging an electric vehicle at home is incredibly easy and convenient. Charging an EV almost anywhere else is … less so. If you live in a multi-family building, if you’re in a rental car, if you’re on a longer trip away from home, you’re in a bit of a crapshoot. More public chargers actually work these days than in the dark days of five years ago, but there are still plenty of duds, and even success remains a somewhat grim and dutiful affair. Chargers are often plopped on the edge of big parking lots, exposed to weather. Best case, there’s some kind of strip mall across that parking lot.
If you fuel up a gasoline car, you can, at a minimum expect to find a working pump that is sheltered from the elements and attended by a place to kill a few minutes and get a snack or go to the bathroom.
Could EV charging stations be the same? That’s the bet IONNA is making. IONNA is a joint venture owned by eight major automakers — BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Toyota — that builds and operates public DC fast chargers. The idea is to pair high-powered, reliable, accessible chargers with amenities like canopies, restrooms, food, and lounges. At least in aspiration, it’s a modern version of the gas station.
