Volvo and Polestar are to provide their EV customers with access to heavily reduced ultra-fast charging rates at Ionity charging points.

From 1 July 2021, drivers of electric models from either brand will only pay €0.35/kWh (£0.30/kWh) at Ionity’s 340-plus charging stations across 24 European countries

The preferential rates are the result of the carmakers’ renewed partnership with charging point platform Plugsurfing and take effect from 1 July 2021. From this date, drivers of electric models from either brand will only pay €0.35/kWh (£0.30/kWh) at Ionity’s 340-plus charging stations across 24 European countries.

For Polestar, the reduced Ionity rate agreement applies to all existing Polestar 2 owners who use the Plugsurfing card supplied with their car or the linked, updated Plugsurfing app at Ionity chargers. It can also be accessed by all new Polestar 2 owners who order their cars by 31 December 2021.

“This is a prime example of how collaboration in the ever-growing free market of public charging infrastructure can be used to benefit our customers, much like our recent partnership with ChargePoint in North America,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO.

In the case of Volvo, the offer applies to new customers for the first 12 months of ownership and to existing customers for 12 months starting from 1 July 2021.

And to offer its customers a seamless charging experience, Volvo will ensure its Volvo Cars app provides a single consolidated digital charging platform, integrating facilities including navigation to charging stations, remote control of charging, charging notifications and payments.

Olivier Loedel, head of electrification ecosystem at Volvo Cars, commented: “This collaboration is a first step in our global ambition to help our customers of Recharge cars travel quickly at a much lower charging cost, wherever they are.

“Volvo Cars aims to change the current fragmented public charging landscape into an all-in experience that is convenient and hassle-free. We want to achieve this by providing an integrated digital charging platform for our customers, and easy access to the largest charging networks globally.”