Ionity is adding large batteries to its European fast-charging network. Wertheim in Germany is the first storage park, with a 1,028 kWh system on site. Around 50 more sites should follow in 2027, bringing total storage to over 20 MWh.
What has Ionity announced?
Ionity plans to install battery storage systems at around 50 of its charging parks across Europe. The rollout is planned for 2027. Together, those systems should add up to more than 20 MWh of storage capacity.
The first site in the programme is Wertheim, a town in southern Germany. There, Ionity’s storage system has a capacity of 1,028 kWh, spread across four modular units supplied by Sungrow. Wertheim therefore acts as the template for what comes next.
It’s worth stressing that these numbers describe the company’s plans. So far, nobody has independently tested how the systems perform in daily use. Until that happens, the 2027 target and the 20 MWh total should be read as Ionity’s own projections.
Why put batteries at a charging park?
Fast chargers draw a lot of power in short bursts. When several cars plug in at once, demand on the site rises sharply. As a result, operators often need expensive grid connections sized for those peaks. For much of the day, however, that capacity sits largely unused.
A battery changes that pattern. First, it can top itself up from the grid during quieter hours. Then, when every bay is busy, it releases stored energy to the chargers. In other words, it smooths the load the site places on the local network.
At Wertheim, the battery also bridges the wait for a grid upgrade, which Ionity says can take up to three years. Storage can help with costs, too. For example, an operator can buy electricity when prices are lower and use it later. Ionity has also pointed to grid services and possibly electricity trading as future uses.
How big are these batteries?
At 1,028 kWh, the Wertheim system holds just over one megawatt-hour. For context, that’s roughly ten to fifteen typical family EV batteries, depending on the model. It’s a substantial buffer for a single charging park.
Meanwhile, the network-wide figure tells a slightly different story. Spread across 50 sites, 20 MWh works out at roughly 400 kWh each. That’s only a simple average, though. Still, it suggests Wertheim sits at the larger end, and system sizes may vary from site to site.
This variation would make sense. After all, every charging park has its own grid connection, traffic pattern and number of bays. A busy motorway hub and a smaller site are unlikely to need identical storage.
What could it mean for drivers?
For drivers, the obvious hope is fewer slowdowns at busy times. On a crowded site, chargers sometimes share available power between cars. In principle, a buffer battery could help maintain speeds when every bay is full.
Storage could also make it easier to open or expand sites where the grid is weak. Consequently, coverage might improve in places that would otherwise wait years for an upgrade. That’s a possibility rather than a promise, however.
Crucially, the announced figures don’t say whether charging speeds or prices will change. So any direct benefit at the plug remains to be seen. Drivers will judge the plan by their own charging sessions.
What don’t we know yet?
Several questions remain open. For one, Ionity hasn’t named the 50 sites in the figures available so far. Equally, it’s unclear which countries will get them first.
There’s also no public detail on cell chemistry or the cost of the programme. Likewise, it’s not yet settled how far the systems will trade on electricity markets or offer services to grid operators. Those choices could shape how much value each battery delivers.
Finally, the timeline beyond 2027 is uncertain. It’s possible the programme grows if Wertheim and the early sites perform well. Equally, the plan could shift if costs or grid conditions change.
Where does this leave Europe’s charging networks?
Battery buffers are becoming a familiar tool for charging operators. Grid upgrades can take years to arrive. By contrast, a containerised battery can often be installed far more quickly.
Ionity’s plan stands out mainly for its scale. Fifty storage-equipped sites in a single year is a sizeable commitment for one network. Moreover, the 20 MWh total gives a clear benchmark to measure progress against.
For now, Wertheim is the proof point. If it works as intended, the rest of the rollout should follow the same model. We’ll keep track of how the programme develops through 2027.
