Seven of the world’s leading carmakers have created an alliance to jointly invest in fast-charging infrastructure for electric cars in North America. BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis intend to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles in North America by making EV charging more accessible, reliable, and convenient.

Together, they aim to become the leading network of reliable, high-powered charging stations in North America and beat Tesla as the leading electric vehicle charging network.

30 000 charging stations

Their main goal is to set up a joint company this year and to have the first charging stations ready by the summer of 2024. By 2030, they want to have at least 30 000 charging points operational in highly trafficked routes in metropolitan areas and along major highways.

North America is the most important car market in the world. However, one of the most significant obstacles to EV adoption, especially in the United States, is range anxiety and the lack of available or convenient charging locations. So, according to the sector, sufficient charging stations are required to make the transition to electric driving successful.

Two kinds of connectors

The stations installed by the joint venture will be equipped with multiple 350-kilowatt fast-charging DC points. They will support two kinds of connectors: the Tesla-favored North America Charging Standard (NACS) and the Combined Charging System (CCS), which is also in use in Europe.

Where possible, the sites will offer weather-protected canopies and amenities such as restrooms, food service, and retail operations either nearby or within the same complex. Prices will be comparable and competitive to existing networks and be set independently by each mobility service provider.

More details, including the name of the joint venture and how the charging locations will be branded, will come later.

Accelerate EV adoption

According to the US Department of Energy, as of July 2023, there are 32 000 publicly available DC fast chargers in the US for use by 2,3 million electric vehicles, a ratio of 72 cars per charger.

Creating a best-in-class charging network will ensure that the EV infrastructure will support current and projected EV sales and foster the adoption of electric vehicles.

“GM’s commitment to an all-electric future is focused not only on delivering EVs our customers love, but investing in charging and working across the industry to make it more accessible,” GM CEO Mary Barra said in a statement. “The better experience people have, the faster EV adoption will grow.”

Pros and cons

“It is in the best interest of the industry to support, promote anything that will bring a higher level of charging network density,” Stellantis CEO Tavares commented. “Increasing the charging network density will reduce range anxiety and will make the sale of EVs easier, and therefore, will improve the financials of selling EVs because we’ll have more volume. People will pay for the EVs in a more natural way.”

He added that one EV connectivity standard has to be set to alleviate complexity and annoyance among consumers, but it also has to be done in a way that avoids charging networks becoming a marketing tool for competitors to steal away each other’s customers.

Tavares declined to specify whether Stellantis will adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its EVs, saying it remains under consideration.”We are evaluating the pros and cons of each scenario, and we’ll come back to you when we will make the decision,” he concluded.