It will soon be easier to charge your EV while you grab your morning coffee or afternoon slushie. Circle K has teamed up with Ionna, the charging alliance formed by eight major car makers, to widen access to fast EV chargers at its U.S. convenience stores.
The partnership will bring Ionna “Rechargeries” to over 350 Circle K locations. About 85 of these will be overhauls of existing Circle K charging facilities.
Ionna also plans to speed up rollouts at “premium, high-traffic” stores that don’t already have chargers. The stations will provide output up to 400kW (200kW each for two vehicles) as well as ports for both Tesla’s NACS (now used by many EVs) and CCS.
The first Circle K Rechargeries will be ready by late 2026, with more coming in 2027.
What is the Ionna charging network
Faster, easier EV charging for everyone
Ionna was formed in 2023 by BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis (Toyota joined in 2024) with the aim of creating a fast, easy-to-use EV charging network for North America. The group hopes to deploy at least 30,000 chargers by 2030.
The initiative is meant to not only provide more consistent fast charging, but to eliminate the headaches that still persist with chargers. Many EV owners have to deal with a patchwork of charging apps, clunky payment systems, and malfuctioning stations. In theory, the Ionna network offers simpler, more reliable charging akin to a gas station, complete with restrooms, food, and other perks.
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The early rollout has been modest, with over 100 sites active as of March 2026. However, Ionna is effectively starting from scratch and is often building complete facilities. The Circle K deal could accelerate the charging network’s expansion, especially as Ionna won’t need to offer as many amenities as it does at stand-alone Rechargeries.
The incentive for the automakers is clear. The easier charging gets, the more likely it is that customers will buy EVs. It also reduces the dependence on single-brand systems like Tesla’s Supercharger network, which might be compatible with many cars but are only truly optimized for one make.
Why Ionna has a partnership with Circle K now
Optimism in a grim EV market
The Circle K deal comes when EV sales have fallen sharply in the U.S. due to the end of the $7,500 federal tax credit. There are no guarantees the demand will rebound to justify the Ionna charging network’s existence.
However, there are long-term factors that could help drive Ionna’s optimism. Cheaper electric cars are coming to North America, including Ford’s planned $30,000 electric pickup and the rumored revival of Tesla’s affordable EV. The rise of solid-state batteries could also spur adoption by greatly improving range and charging speeds.
What the future may hold
The difficult market conditions might not be permanent, either. In the past decade, successive U.S. governments have swung between pro- and anti-EV policies. Ionna doesn’t necessarily want to abandon its plans when EV-friendly leadership could return, especially when other countries are still moving forward.
There’s also the question of rationalizing heavy investments in EVs. While some auto giants are scaling back their EV production, they still have a strong interest in developing EV infrastructure. A large charging network could help recoup those investments if and when EVs enjoy a comeback.
Source: IONNA.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
