Ionna Preparing to Train Dealership Staff on EVs at a Few Hundred Locations

IONNA CEO Seth Cutler believes one of the biggest obstacles to EV adoption is not the vehicles themselves, but the lack of knowledge about charging among the people selling them.

IONNA, the fast-charging network backed by Toyota, Honda, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis, plans to begin training dealership employees at several hundred locations in the first quarter of 2027. The program is expected to target dealers in Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Dallas, San Francisco, San Jose and Raleigh. Business Insider reported the news on October 6, 2026.

Cutler says automakers have spent years improving EV range, performance and charging speeds, while reliable public charging has remained a barrier to adoption, particularly along highways and in urban areas.

“If we can do this right, we can enable EV adoption,” Cutler said to Business Insider.

IONNA is also rapidly expanding its charging network. The company grew from 90 active U.S. stations in January to 191 at the beginning of October and expects to open its 200th location this month.

Tesla has more than 3,000 U.S. Supercharger locations, while Walmart is also rapidly expanding its fast-charging network.

IONNA has differentiated its sites by emphasizing the overall charging experience, with amenities including restrooms, lounges, trash cans, window-cleaning stations and, at some locations, convenience stores. J.D. Power ranked IONNA the nation’s top DC fast-charging network in its 2026 study.

Cutler remains optimistic despite automakers adjusting their EV strategies and slowing sales growth. He compared EVs to early flat-screen televisions, which initially were expensive and had limited appeal before becoming more affordable and widespread.

For IONNA, educating dealership employees could be just as important as expanding its charging network.

Cutler believes the question is no longer whether transportation will become electric, but how large a share of vehicle sales EVs will ultimately represent.

EVinfo.net’s Take: Finally! EV Education for Dealerships is Desperately Needed in USA

I could not be happier to report this news, as I have been advocating for more EV education in the USA for years, for both dealers and buyers. I believe the lack of EV education is one of the biggest barriers slowing EV adoption in America today.

IONNA deserves strong kudos for providing dealerships with EV training. It is desperately needed.

Misinformation about electric vehicles circulates daily, and too many car buyers still make decisions based on outdated EV myths rather than today’s reality. EVinfo.net previously reported on the top 11 EV myths, highlighting how much misinformation continues to influence consumers.

The truth is that buying and living with an EV is easier than ever. Prices have fallen, public charging availability has rapidly expanded thanks to IONNA, Walmart and others, charging networks are improving, and connector adapters have made it easier for EV drivers to access more charging options. OEM-approved adapters, CCS to NACS and NACS to CCS allow drivers to use any available public charger.

Yet many consumers simply do not know this. That lack of education is one reason hybrid sales are increasing as drivers face record high fuel prices due to current federal administration mistakes. Buyers who might otherwise consider a BEV may choose a hybrid because they believe an EV will be inconvenient, difficult to charge or impractical for their lifestyle.

Dealership education can change that.

Services such as Lectrium’s AI-powered electrified vehicle sales tools and Aviloo’s battery diagnostics can also give dealers valuable information to help buyers and customers understand EVs and battery health. Better information can build confidence, improve the buying experience and ultimately help dealers sell more BEVs as well as hybrids.

Part of the education programs offered by IONNA and others in the future should include the ongoing problem of EV charging reliability and how to handle it.

EV charging reliability is a lingering problem that innovative company WattsUp is solving. WattsUp enables proactive and efficient maintenance workflows for CPOs.

IONNA is right to recognize that EV adoption requires more than building charging stations. The industry also needs to educate the people selling EVs.

KUDOS IONNA!!