Europe’s EV Pact Sparks a Charging Shake-Up

Ionity, Atlante, and Fastned join forces to expand Europe’s EV charging, improving access and urging operators to collaborate for faster network growth

20 Nov 2025

A new coalition of European charging providers has formed to address rising demand for electric vehicle infrastructure, as Ionity, Atlante, Fastned and Electra combine their networks under the recently launched Spark Alliance.

The four companies plan to link more than 1,700 stations and about 11,000 charging points across 25 countries. While the scale is significant, the shift marks a move towards a more coordinated model in a sector that has often expanded through fragmented, country-by-country growth.

The alliance aims to make public charging more consistent for drivers who now face uneven reliability, varying payment systems and differing accessibility standards. Members say the network should function as a single system, regardless of national borders, at a time when electric vehicle adoption is accelerating across the region.

The initiative aligns with EU climate goals for 2030, which rely on a charging network that is widely available and easy to use. Industry groups have warned that individual operators rolling out stations on their own may struggle to match the pace of rising demand.

There are commercial incentives behind the partnership. By coordinating equipment choices and negotiating jointly with grid operators, the companies expect to reduce development costs and speed up installation times. Analysts say similar alliances could emerge as operators look for scale in a capital-intensive market.

The effort faces challenges. Smaller operators worry they could lose visibility in a more consolidated environment, while integrating different hardware and software systems is expected to require detailed technical work. But industry experts argue that a more unified network could ease frustrations for drivers who currently navigate multiple apps, shifting tariffs and inconsistent performance.

As Europe pushes towards cleaner transport, the Spark Alliance suggests a shift towards more connected infrastructure. Its success could help shape how charging networks develop in the next phase of the region’s electrification plans.