Electric vehicle sales momentum may have slowed in the U.S., but for charging company Ionna, backed by eight carmakers, it's full speed ahead. Why it matters: Ionna is on track to open 30,000 high-speed charging bays across the U.S. by 2030, a network its founding automakers see as a key to EV adoption."The faster we can get to market, the faster we feel we can unlock vehicle sales for [automakers]," Ionna CEO Seth Cutler said.Catch up quick: Ionna was founded in 2023 by BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and Toyota. In 2025, Rivian began partnering with Ionna, too. Ionna's goal is to raise the game for EV charging with convenient, affordable fast chargers and amenities like windshield cleaners, trash bins, restrooms and food.Its 400-kW chargers are the fastest available today in the U.S., and provide access to both NACS and CCS plugs. State of play: Since February 2024, Ionna has opened 120 "Rechargery" locations in 31 states, with 60 more locations under construction.It's also partnering with convenience stores and gas stations like Sheetz, Wawa and Circle K. 💭 My thought bubble: I charged at an Ionna charger in Reading, Massachusetts, located in the parking lot of an office building, with a Longhorn Steakhouse and Market Basket supermarket within walking distance.I expected more: a convenience store and a protective canopy, perhaps? Cutler tells me such features will be added to many locations; the primary focus has been getting chargers in the ground.But charging couldn't have been easier, because Ionna was integrated into my EV's app. I just plugged in and swiped to charge. (I was driving a Toyota — not all EV manufacturers have the same integration yet.)Ionna's charging fees are significantly less than other networks — 39 cents per kWh vs. 64 cents per kWh at Electrify America, for example — and that's before discounts offered by individual carmakers. Follow the money: Clearly, carmakers are subsidizing the costs, but let's face it — they have a strong interest in removing barriers to EV ownership.