Public EV charging ramps up

Public fast-charging networks in the United States are adding hundreds of new plugs in 2026, even as some existing chargers still sit offline. (chargedevs.com, cabinradio.ca) IONNA and Circle K said on April 14 they plan more than 350 U.S. charging sites under the “Rechargeries @ Circle K” brand. IONNA said it will take over Circle K’s existing U.S. charging portfolio, upgrade about 85 current sites, and add new stations at other high-traffic stores. (chargedevs.com, prnewswire.com) Those Circle K sites are expected to offer charging speeds of up to 400 kilowatts and both North American Charging Standard and Combined Charging System plugs. CleanTechnica separately reported about 265 new fast-charging stations are planned at Circle K retail locations. (chargedevs.com, cleantechnica.com) A fast charger works like a gas pump for battery power: it pushes electricity into a vehicle in minutes instead of hours. Rivian says its Adventure Network can add up to 150 miles of range in 20 minutes, with charger speeds up to 300 kilowatts. (rivian.com) The new buildout comes as automakers and retailers race to make road-trip charging easier to find at highway stops and convenience stores. IONNA began operations in North America in 2024 and said it was created by BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis; Toyota joined later and IONNA has said it aims for at least 30,000 chargers. (ionna.com, press.bmwgroup.com) Rivian is expanding its own network at the same time. Rivian’s charging map shows Adventure Network fast chargers across the United States, and industry trackers reported roughly 930 stalls at the end of 2025 and about 963 chargers by mid-April 2026. (rivian.com, evchargingstations.com, rivianroamer.com) Rivian has also been opening more of those chargers to drivers who do not own Rivian vehicles. The company said in December 2024 that its next-generation Adventure Network locations would allow non-Rivian electric vehicles to charge alongside Rivian models. (rivianforums.com, automotiveworld.com) But more plugs do not guarantee a working network. Cabin Radio reported on April 15 that the Fort Providence charger in the Northwest Territories has been out of service for months, and Naka Power Utilities said crews planned more work in April after earlier repairs did not hold. (cabinradio.ca, nakapower.com) Federal rules for publicly funded charging already treat uptime as a core requirement. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure standards require each port to meet 97 percent uptime, a benchmark that puts pressure on operators to keep stations working after ribbon-cuttings. (ecfr.gov, law.cornell.edu) That leaves 2026 looking like a two-track year for public charging: more highway sites, more retail tie-ins, and more competition on one side, with maintenance backlogs and uneven reliability still visible on the other. (chargedevs.com, cabinradio.ca, rivian.com)