Ionity activates first megawatt charger in France

Ionity’s plans to use Alpitronic’s megawatt charging systems were first announced in April 2025. At the time, the fast-charging joint venture stated that the first HYC1000 units would go live by the end of that year. However, the commissioning of the first two sites in France, originally scheduled for December 2025, was delayed. As is often the case in the charging infrastructure sector—particularly with premieres—deadlines can be difficult to meet.

Ionity has now announced that its HYC1000 charging system, following intensive testing at the company’s own site near Munich, is being deployed for the first time at public locations in France. The site in Maison-Dieu, in eastern France, opened a few days ago, with a second site in Sorgues—directly on the famous A7 ‘Autoroute du Soleil’—following on Thursday. At both locations, Ionity has installed an HYC1000 system with six charging points each.

The Alpitronic system features a central power cabinet with a total output of 1,000 kW. This power can be dynamically distributed across multiple vehicles or, when a single vehicle is connected, bundled to deliver up to 600 kW. Ionity states that this technology lays the groundwork for the increasing charging power demands of new vehicle generations. At such charging points, high-performance electric vehicles can ‘recharge up to 300 kilometres of range in under eight minutes’ using a CCS plug.

Ionity’s first HYC1000 deployment in Germany is planned ‘in the coming weeks.’ In Werne, North Rhine-Westphalia, the company is currently constructing ‘Germany’s fastest charging park.’ Unlike the two French sites, Werne will feature eight 600-kW charging points. The location, near the A1 motorway and intersected by the federal highways 54 and 233, is just a few kilometres north of Kamen, where Ionity already operates a charging park with eight 350-kW charging points and two Alpitronic Hyperchargers HY400.

Initially, Ionity relied on purchased 350-kW charging columns from Tritium but later switched to its own charging column design. This design uses a standardised Ionity housing that can accommodate charging technology from various suppliers, diversifying the supply chain. In December 2023, Ionity opened its first charging park equipped with Alpitronic’s widely used Hyperchargers.

Following the deployments in Werne, Maison-Dieu, and Sorgues, Ionity plans to expand the rollout of the HYC1000 across its network. The operator is preparing ‘additional installations of HYC1000 systems along key European transport routes,’ though no specific locations or expansion targets have been disclosed.

“With the introduction of the new megawatt charging systems, we are further enhancing the performance of our European charging network,” says Ionity CEO Jeroen van Tilburg. “The charging power of new electric vehicles is continuously increasing, and in the coming years, more and more models will be able to utilise these high power levels. For drivers, this means shorter charging stops and greater freedom on every journey. We are creating an infrastructure that not only meets today’s needs but also securely positions Europe for the further expansion of electromobility.”

Source: Information via email (in German)