Seven automakers have united to create a high-powered EV charging network joint venture in North America. Planned are at least 30,000 EV charging stations. It’s a monumental announcement.

Why is This Joint Venture a Big Deal?

Why is this joint venture a big deal? Well, for one thing it unites seven global automakers for a common cause. The automakers are BMW Group, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz Group, and Stellantis. But also, this: According to Bureau of Transportation Statistics there are 54,600 public and available EV charging stations in the U.S. as of July 24, 2023. According to the joint venture press release, the U.S. Department of Energy says that as of July 2023 there are 32,000 publicly available DC fast chargers in the U.S. No matter which number you focus on, adding 30,000 new chargers is a robust increase. The joint venture press release contains more interesting numbers, like those from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. It estimates that 182,000 fast chargers will be needed to support the 30-42 million plug-in vehicles expected on the road by 2030. Thus, growth of the EV charging network is necessary and arguably urgent.

The Nuts And Bolts of the New EV Charging Stations

Initial plans will place DC high-power EV charging stations in metro areas and along major highways. This will also include connecting corridors and vacation routes. The goal is to make the charging experience easy and comfortable. The charging stations will include canopies when possible, and amenities such as restrooms, food service and retail shops either close or within the same complex. There will be flagship stations that offer additional amenities to help deliver an experience that is “designed to showcase the future of charging.” The network will allow for seamless integration with participating automakers’ in-vehicle and in-app experiences. This is said to include reservations, intelligent route planning and navigation, payment applications, and transparent energy management. Further, the network will utilize Plug & Charge technology for automated payments.

Photo: Kia

More About the EV Charging Stations

The new charging stations will offer charging using either Combined Charging System (CCS) or North American Charging Standard (NACS). Further, the network intends to power the charging network solely by renewable energy. Look for the joint venture to be established in 2023, subject of course to closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The plan is to open the first stations in the U.S. by summer 2024. Canada will follow at a later stage. The goal of this new network is to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles in North America. To accomplish this task, the network aims to make EV charging more convenient, accessible, and reliable.