350+ Circle K Stores Getting Ultra-Fast EV Chargers

Charging your electric car is about to get a whole lot easier, thanks to a massive partnership bringing ultra-fast chargers to convenience stores you already know.

IONNA, a charging network backed by eight major automakers including BMW, GM, Toyota, and Honda, just announced plans to install fast chargers at more than 350 Circle K locations across America. These aren't your average chargers. They're powerful 400kW stations capable of adding hundreds of miles of range in the time it takes to grab a coffee and use the restroom.

The partnership marks a significant step forward for electric vehicle infrastructure in the United States. Circle K operates over 7,000 locations nationwide, making it much larger than IONNA's previous partners like Casey's and Wawa.

About 85 Circle K stores already have charging stations, but IONNA will upgrade those older 180kW chargers to the new 400kW systems. The upgraded stations will support both CCS and NACS plugs, meaning they'll work with nearly every electric vehicle on the road.

The automaker coalition formed IONNA in 2024 specifically to solve the charging anxiety many drivers feel about going electric. By focusing on convenience store locations along major travel routes, they're putting chargers exactly where drivers already stop during road trips.

The Ripple Effect

This expansion could change how Americans think about electric vehicles. Range anxiety has long been one of the biggest barriers preventing people from making the switch to electric, but networks like this are steadily erasing that concern.

The first upgraded Circle K locations will open by the end of 2025, with the network really ramping up in 2027. IONNA's ambitious goal is to operate 30,000 charging bays by 2030, which would make it one of the largest charging networks in North America.

With backing from some of the world's biggest automakers, that target suddenly seems achievable. Each company has a vested interest in making electric vehicle ownership as convenient as gas-powered cars.

The convenience store model makes perfect sense for fast charging since most stops already take 15 to 20 minutes anyway. Drivers can grab snacks, stretch their legs, and get back on the road with a full battery.

This partnership represents exactly what electric vehicle advocates have been calling for: charging infrastructure that meets drivers where they already are, not asking them to change their habits.