Ionna partners with Circle K to bring high-power EV charging to more than 350 locations

Ionna, the EV charging network backed by eight of the world’s largest automakers, has announced a strategic partnership with Circle K to dramatically expand access to high-power charging across the United States. The deal centers on a joint ambition to grow to more than 350 sites featuring what the companies are calling Rechargeries @ Circle K, blending Ionna’s charging technology with Circle K’s massive convenience store footprint.

Under the agreement, Ionna will assume operation of Circle K’s existing U.S. charging portfolio, beginning with the conversion and upgrade of approximately 85 current Circle K charging sites. Beyond those upgrades, Ionna plans to deploy new charging stations at premium, high-traffic Circle K locations that do not currently have chargers. The first Rechargeries @ Circle K locations are expected to begin serving customers by the end of 2026, with additional sites rolling out through 2027.

The partnership represents a significant shift in how Circle K approaches EV charging in the United States. Rather than continuing to build and operate its own network, the company is handing the reins to Ionna, which has quickly established itself as one of the most closely watched new entrants in the public charging space. Ionna was founded as a joint venture by BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Toyota, and the network has been expanding rapidly since its initial deployments. The company recently surpassed 100 operational charging sites nationwide, with nearly 1,000 live bays and more than 4,700 contracted.

For EV drivers, the practical appeal of this partnership is straightforward. Circle K operates more than 7,300 stores in the United States, and those locations already serve as regular stops for millions of drivers on road trips and daily commutes. Adding high-power charging to a significant number of those sites means drivers will be able to top off their batteries at locations they already know and trust, rather than hunting for standalone chargers in unfamiliar parking lots or highway off-ramps. That convenience factor is one of the biggest remaining hurdles in public charging adoption, and partnerships like this one are designed to close the gap between where chargers are and where drivers actually want to stop.

Aaron Wolff, Ionna’s chief operating officer, said Circle K’s scale, customer focus, and quality of location make the company an ideal partner for Ionna’s expansion plans. “We are honored that Circle K has recognized Ionna as a leader in the industry and entrusted us to serve their customers with the same care and commitment to excellence that they show now,” Wolff said.

The charging hardware itself is noteworthy. Ionna’s stations deliver up to 400 kW, placing them among the fastest publicly available chargers in the country. At those speeds, many modern EVs can add hundreds of miles of range in under 20 minutes, depending on the vehicle’s battery architecture and state of charge. All Rechargeries @ Circle K locations will support both NACS and CCS connectors, meaning virtually every EV on the road today will be compatible. That dual-connector approach has become an increasingly important selling point as the industry continues its transition toward NACS as the dominant standard, while millions of older CCS-equipped vehicles remain in service.

The experience at these locations is intended to go beyond simply plugging in. Circle K stores offer snacks, fresh grab-and-go food, packaged and dispensed beverages, everyday convenience items, and car washes at select locations. The idea is that drivers can recharge both their vehicles and themselves at a single stop, mirroring the model that has already proven successful for Ionna at its existing Rechargeries. Destination Charged has previously reviewed the Ionna charging experience and found it to be among the best in the DC fast charging space, with a focus on reliability, speed, and driver comfort that sets it apart from many legacy networks.

Håkon Stiksrud, Circle K’s vice president of global eMobility, framed the partnership as preparation for a future in which EV charging becomes a core part of the convenience store business model. “Partnering with Ionna enables us to scale high-power charging quickly at locations drivers already trust, combining fast, reliable charging with a great food and beverage experience,” Stiksrud said. He described the arrangement as delivering “not just charging, but a complete retail experience that supports our customers on the go.”

Circle K is not new to EV charging. The company has been operating chargers in Europe for several years, with more than 1,400 fast chargers deployed across locations in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Its U.S. charging footprint has been growing as well, with sites in multiple states already online before this partnership was announced. The decision to bring Ionna in as the operator suggests Circle K sees value in partnering with a dedicated charging company rather than managing that infrastructure in-house, particularly as the technology and competitive landscape continue to evolve.

For Ionna, the Circle K deal represents a major step toward its stated goal of building 30,000 high-power charging bays by 2030. That target is ambitious by any measure, and while the company has been moving quickly, it still has a long way to go. With approximately 1,000 bays currently operational and 4,700 contracted, partnerships with high-traffic retail brands like Circle K are essential to reaching that scale. The company has already announced similar collaborations with Sheetz and Wawa, and the Circle K partnership extends that strategy to one of the largest convenience store brands in the country.

The broader context here matters as well. Public charging infrastructure in the United States remains a major pain point for EV owners and a frequently cited barrier for prospective buyers. Reliability, speed, and charging station quality vary widely across networks, and drivers often report frustration with broken chargers, slow speeds, and stations in inconvenient or poorly maintained locations. Networks like Ionna are attempting to address those complaints by building stations that are fast, reliable, and located at places people actually want to visit. Pairing that approach with an established retail brand like Circle K, which already invests in maintaining clean, well-lit, and fully stocked locations, is a logical next step. For a look at what the best charging stops in the country look like today, Destination Charged has compiled a guide to the best EV charging stops along I-95.

The first Rechargeries @ Circle K are expected to open before the end of 2026, with the broader rollout continuing into 2027 and beyond as both companies work toward the 350-site ambition.