EV charging station set for east Vancouver

Construction is underway on Vancouver’s first large, shaded electric vehicle charging station.

National EV charging company IONNA plans to install seven dual-car chargers near Southeast 164th Avenue and Southeast 15th Street, according to a city of Vancouver building permit.

The chargers will be level 3 fast chargers, the quickest type of EV charger, the permit shows. They can typically charge an electric vehicle to 80 percent of its battery in 20 minutes to an hour, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The company’s building permit also shows it plans to build a shade canopy.

The planned charging station, called a rechargery, sits in an east Vancouver strip mall, next to a variety of businesses, including Killer Burger and Black Bear Diner. It’s also near the Best Western Premier Hotel at Fisher’s Landing.

IONNA is funded by several of the world’s largest automakers — BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and Toyota. Several offer free charging credits to customers who bought a public charging package with their car.

The company aims to develop a nationwide network of 30,000 charging stations that are integrated with nearby retail by 2030.

IONNA had 12 open rechargeries in North Carolina, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kansas, Arizona and Missouri as of its last financial report released in May. It’s since opened rechargeries in Minnesota, California, Georgia, Maryland, Illinois, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, Utah, Oregon and Virginia.

The Vancouver location will be the first in Washington.

The company’s financial report indicated IONNA’s rechargeries have canopies, 24/7 charging, access to restrooms, food and beverage choices, car care and travel comforts.

IONNA media representatives didn’t respond to requests for more information on the project.

Sarah Wolf: 360-735-4513; sarah.wolf@columbian.com