Competition in the U.S. public electric vehicle charging market appears to be shifting from the number of chargers to amenities and the stay experience.

Cleantechnica reported on Oct. 1 that automaker joint venture IONNA is accelerating network expansion with its lounge-style charging hubs, called Rechargery.

IONNA was established in 2023 by BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai Motor, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis, and Toyota later joined. Rechargery combines a covered fast-charging area with WiFi, light food and beverages, and restrooms. The first Rechargery broke ground in North Carolina in 2024.

As of March, IONNA operates about 1,000 charging bays at more than 100 charging stations in the United States, and has contracted for more than 4,700 additional bays. About 1,500 of those are under construction or awaiting final approval. In April, it also announced a plan with Circle K to install IONNA chargers at more than 350 stores in the United States. Its goal is to build 30,000 ultra-fast charging points by 2030.

The strategy also delivered results in user satisfaction. In JD Power's 2026 U.S. Electric Vehicle Public Charging Study, IONNA ranked first in the DC fast-charging category with a score of 807. JD Power said high-output chargers, large sites, amenities and easy payment reduce charging failures and improve reliability.

Tesla and EVgo also moved to improve charging network efficiency. Tesla introduced a new Supercharger station that is pre-assembled at the factory to speed installation, and EVgo unveiled a power-sharing charging system supporting up to 750 kW. In cities, Voltpost and It's Electric are expanding charging models that use streetlights and curbside space.

Competition in the U.S. charging market appears to be expanding beyond a simple race to secure chargers into service competition spanning speed and reliability, amenities and the stay experience.