Ionity Charge Stations Will Be Designed by BMW
BMW‘s Designworks has been named design partner for the Ionity joint venture.
Ionity is a joint venture between the BMW Group, Daimler, Ford, and Volkswagen, with the goal of making e-mobility ready for long distance travel. Currently, Ionity plans to launch Europe’s first fast-charging network for long distance travel, with 400 stations planned along major routes across Europe by the end of 2020. Designworks, which is a BMW Group company, is in charge of designing the charging station architecture, the charger pylons, and the digital interaction concept.
The new charging station design “transmits a sense of space that is open, light, clear, and user-friendly,” said Designworks. The charging pylons have balanced proportions with large radii and taut surfaces, resulting in a welcoming appearance. Helping keep the user experience simple is a touchscreen user interface.
At night, the charging pylons will be illuminated with what appears to be a free-floating light ring, sitting atop the charger’s body.
SEE ALSO: Six Automakers Join Forces for ‘Ionity’ High Power EV Charging Network
According to Ionity, the charging stations will each offer up to six chargers equipped with the latest e-charging technology. The plan is to make them easily accessible for the public, placed at a distance of approximately 75 miles (120 kilometers) from each other.
“For selection of the design partner, our criteria included a comprehensive understanding of future mobility as well as experience outside of the automotive industry, competence in both analog and digital interfaces, pronounced intercultural expertise, and the ability to develop concepts with a view to future contexts,” says Michael Hajesch, CEO at IONITY. “In creating the first Pan-European HPC network, we are looking to give electromobility a boost toward a breakthrough in Europe. Design, with the tremendous potential it has to reach people and influence them in a positive manner, is a key factor for us here”, Hajesch added.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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