European charging giants form new Spark Alliance super-network

Four of Europe’s leading charging networks have combined forces to create a simplified public charging system across the continent.

Atlante, Electra, Fastned and Ionity have united to form Spark Alliance, which the companies say aims to create one seamless charging network which will make EV ownership easier than ever.

The proliferation of dozens of individual charging networks all with their own memberships, subscriptions, apps and charge cards is seen as one of the most confusing aspects of EV ownership. The Spark Alliance aims to tackle this by allowing drivers to use their existing preferred app or card to pay for charging across all its members’ devices.

The deal brings together 11,000 public chargers at more than 1,700 locations in 25 European countries, including the UK and Ireland. Drivers already registered with one of the providers will not need any additional subscriptions, apps or cards to use chargers within the alliance. As part of the deal, the four providers’ apps and route planning tools will now include their partners’ charging locations as well as their own.

The firms behind the alliance say that they want to democratise public EV charging by creating ‘hassle-free’ access across networks and countries.

Michiel Langezaal, CEO of Fastned, commented: “Electric drivers often find themselves in a maze: too many apps, chargecards, and low-quality charging stations creating confusion and anxiety.

“We’re solving this by bringing together Europe’s premier charging companies to create the smoothest charging experience across Europe’s largest network. In a crowded market, Spark Alliance stations will stand out from the crowd as a sign of quality and trust – simplifying the entire charging experience for drivers and accelerating EV adoption.”

Aurélien de Meaux, co-founder and CEO of Electra, which operates across France, Italy, Spain and Portugal, added: “At Electra, we have always emphasised the speed, simplicity, and reliability of charging. With the Spark Alliance, we are going even further by offering a network of over 11,000 high-quality charging points, accessible at a glance without the need to switch applications. This is the future of electric mobility: seamless, economical, and environmentally friendly.”