There is a new EV charging idea from IONITY that I really like.
The ultra-rapid charging network is now rewarding drivers with free charging credit when they stop their charge at around 80%, rather than sitting on the charger all the way to 100%. It is called the Fast Lane Reward, and while it might sound like a small incentive, I think it says something much bigger about where electric car ownership needs to go next.
Because the truth is, EV charging is not just about plugging in. It is about plugging in properly.
IONITY says drivers using its app can receive a 5kWh charging credit if they end a qualifying charging session before the car reaches 85%, after being notified that the battery has reached 80%. The session must start between 9am and 5pm, and drivers need to have the “80% Charged” notification switched on in the IONITY app. There is also a minimum charging volume of 40kWh for the reward to apply.
In plain English, IONITY is saying: charge what you need, move on when it makes sense, and we will give you something back.
That feels like exactly the kind of EV behaviour we should be encouraging.
Why 80% is the magic number for EV charging
If you are new to electric cars, the idea of stopping at 80% can feel odd.
With a petrol or diesel car, most of us are used to filling the tank until the pump clicks. Full tank, job done. EVs work differently.
Most electric cars charge much more quickly between roughly 10% and 80%. After that, the charging speed often slows down dramatically. That is why car manufacturers usually quote rapid charging times as 10-80%, rather than 0-100%.
IONITY makes the same point in its announcement, saying that for many electric vehicles, charging from 80% to 100% can take almost as long as charging from 10% to 80%.
That is the bit many drivers still do not realise.
The final 20% can be slow, especially on a rapid or ultra-rapid charger. You might be sitting there for ages just to add a small number of extra miles. On a quiet charger, that is your choice. But on a busy summer travel day, when other EV drivers are waiting, it quickly becomes a problem.
This is not about telling people off
What I like about IONITY’s approach is that it does not feel like a punishment.
Some charging networks use idle fees when people stay plugged in too long. That has its place, especially if someone has finished charging and wandered off for lunch. But a reward feels more positive.
Instead of saying “you are doing this wrong”, IONITY is encouraging better habits.
And that matters, because public charging etiquette is going to become more important as more people move into electric cars.
We have all seen it. A car is sitting on a rapid charger at 93%, creeping painfully towards 100%, while another driver is waiting with barely enough range to get to the next location. The person charging probably is not trying to be difficult. They may just not understand how much slower the car becomes beyond 80%.
A small reward can help change that behaviour without making the whole thing feel hostile.
Free charging credit is a smart nudge
The reward itself is simple. If you qualify, the 5kWh credit is automatically added to your IONITY account and can be used on your next charging session. IONITY says the credit can be viewed in the app under “Credits & Rewards”.
Is 5kWh going to change someone’s life? No.
But depending on the car, driving style and conditions, 5kWh could be roughly 15 to 25 miles of driving. That is a useful little top-up. More importantly, it gives drivers a reason to think differently.
It turns the 80% rule from boring EV advice into something with a benefit attached.
That is clever.
People respond to incentives. If drivers know they can get a bit of free charging credit by unplugging at the sensible point, more of them are likely to do it. That helps the individual driver, because they spend less time sitting at the charger. It also helps everyone else, because the charger becomes available sooner.
IONITY is also rewarding off-peak charging
The 80% reward is not the only incentive being introduced.
IONITY is also offering an Off-Peak Reward, giving customers a 5kWh credit when they charge between 10pm and 6am. Again, there is a minimum 40kWh charging volume per session.
That is another sensible move.
Public chargers are not equally busy all day. Peaks happen, especially around holiday travel, lunchtime motorway stops and summer getaway routes. If some drivers can be encouraged to charge at quieter times, it helps spread demand across the day.
Of course, not everyone wants to charge at 11pm. For most normal drivers, the 80% reward is probably the more useful one. But the wider idea is important: EV charging should become smarter, not just faster.
The timing is perfect for summer road trips
IONITY has launched this just in time for the summer travel season, which makes sense.
This is when public charging behaviour really matters. More people are travelling longer distances. More EVs are heading to motorways, airports, coastal towns, campsites and holiday destinations. Chargers that feel perfectly fine on a normal Tuesday can suddenly become much busier on a peak summer weekend.
That is where small changes make a big difference.
If every driver stops at 80% when they do not need 100%, the whole charging experience becomes smoother. Queues move faster. Chargers turn over more quickly. Drivers spend less time waiting. The whole thing feels less stressful.
And if you do genuinely need 100%, that is fine too. Nobody is saying you should never fully charge your car. If you are heading somewhere remote, towing, driving in winter, or starting a long motorway journey with limited charging options, 100% can make sense.
The point is that 100% should be a choice for when you need it, not a habit every time you plug in.
It is also better for the battery
Another benefit of regular 80% charging is battery health.
Modern EVs are much better at protecting their batteries than some people realise. Battery management systems, thermal control and built-in buffers all help reduce wear. So no, you do not need to panic if you occasionally charge to 100%.
But for everyday use, most EV makers and charging experts recommend avoiding constant full charges unless you need the range. Keeping the battery below 100% for normal use can help reduce long-term stress on the cells.
IONITY also notes that regularly charging to 80% can help preserve battery health over the long term.
For most drivers, the practical advice is simple. Use 80% as your everyday target. Charge to 100% when you need the extra range. Do not overthink it.
This is the sort of EV education we need
One of the biggest barriers to EV adoption is not always the car itself. It is confidence.
People want to know how charging works. They want to know what to do on a long journey. They want to know whether they will annoy other drivers, damage the battery or end up stuck somewhere with 3% range and a broken charger.
That is why initiatives like this matter. They make good charging habits feel normal.
Instead of burying advice in an owner’s manual, IONITY is building it into the charging experience. The app tells you when you have reached 80%. The reward gives you a reason to act. The next driver gets access to the charger sooner.
That is a neat little ecosystem.
IONITY already operates more than 6,000 charging points across 24 European countries, with ultra-rapid charging available to all EV brands, so changes like this can influence real-world behaviour across a large network.
My take
I think this is a great move from IONITY.
It is simple, practical and genuinely useful. More importantly, it tackles one of the most annoying parts of public EV charging: people staying plugged in longer than they really need to.
EV charging does not need to feel complicated. For most longer journeys, you stop, charge quickly to around 80%, grab a coffee, use the loo and get back on the road. That is usually the sweet spot.
Sitting there for the final 20% is often not worth it unless you have a specific reason.
So yes, I like this. It rewards smarter behaviour, helps reduce waiting times, and makes public charging feel a little more considerate.
More charging networks should be thinking like this.
Because the future of EV travel is not just about faster chargers. It is about better habits, better apps, better incentives and a bit more common sense at the charging bay.