Ionity Bets Big on Ultra-Fast EV Charging

Ionity tests megawatt-ready chargers, pushing highway EV charging toward faster stops and a high-power future

11 Feb 2026

Europe’s EV charging race is entering a more muscular phase.

Ionity has begun validating a megawatt-capable charging platform built by Alpitronic, with wider rollout expected in the second half of 2025. The first pilot site is already live, marking a pivotal step for one of Europe’s largest highway charging networks.

The system can deliver up to 1 megawatt of total site power. For now, individual passenger EVs using CCS connectors will top out at roughly 600 kilowatts. That is still a serious jump. For next-generation, high-voltage models designed to accept faster charging, the payoff could be dramatically shorter stops.

This is not just a technology upgrade. It is a signal.

Automakers are rolling out vehicles engineered for higher charging rates, and infrastructure providers are racing to keep up. On busy highways, speed and reliability increasingly shape where drivers choose to plug in. Networks limited to 150 or even 350 kilowatt chargers may soon feel dated.

Ionity’s platform adds another advantage. It can dynamically distribute power between vehicles, adjusting output depending on demand. At peak times, that flexibility could mean smoother traffic flow and better use of available grid capacity. It also future-proofs sites for vehicles that have yet to hit the road.

The shift will not be effortless. Megawatt-capable stations require robust grid connections, and in some regions that means utility upgrades. Only a small share of today’s vehicles can fully exploit ultra-high charging rates, so utilization will depend on how quickly the fleet evolves.

Yet the direction of travel is clear. Europe’s policy push toward zero-emission transport, combined with steady EV adoption, is forcing infrastructure to think ahead. Building bigger now may spare operators costly retrofits later.

For businesses, the message is strategic. Plan for higher power or risk falling behind.

For drivers, it is refreshingly simple. Faster charging. Shorter stops. A highway network that finally feels built for the electric age.