General Motors (GM) and EVgo plan to triple the size of the U.S.’s largest public fast-charging network by adding more than 2700 new fast chargers over the next five years in the move set to help accelerate widespread electric vehicle adoption. The two companies will add fast-charging stations to cities and suburbs to unlock new EV customer segments and provide increased charging access to drivers who live in multi-unit homes, rent their homes and can’t install chargers, or might not have access to workplace charging.
“We know how important the charging ecosystem is for drivers, one that includes access to convenient and reliable public fast charging,” said Mary Barra, GM Chairman and CEO. “Our relationship with EVgo will bolster the public fast-charging network available to EV customers ahead of increased market demand and reinforce our commitment to an all-electric, zero-emissions future.”
Customers will have access to some of the fastest charging capabilities at the places they regularly frequent, such as grocery stores, retail outlets, entertainment centers, and other high-traffic locations. With fast charging available where people typically spend 15-30 min, customers can charge their vehicles in the time it takes to run their errands. This approach builds on the success of EVgo’s existing portfolio of more than 800 station locations across the U.S., said to be the most of any U.S. public fast-charging network.
The new fast-charging stations will be available to customers starting in early 2021. They will be located in highly visible areas and most will be able to charge at least four vehicles simultaneously. Additionally, stations will feature new charging technology with 100- to 350-kW capabilities to meet the needs of an increasingly powerful set of EVs coming to market.
“115 million Americans already live within a 15-minute drive of an EVgo fast-charging station,” said Cathy Zoi, EVgo CEO. “With EV choices rapidly increasing, building more fast-charging stations across the U.S. is necessary to extend the power of EVs for more drivers.”
Both companies have made significant investments and commitments to running on renewable energy. In 2019, EVgo became the first North American charging company to contract for 100 percent renewable energy to power its chargers. Its fast chargers will be powered by 100% renewable energy. Earlier this year, GM committed to having all its U.S. plants running on renewable energy by 2030 and all global plants running on renewable energy by 2040.
General Motors and EVgo designed this new endeavor to leverage private investment alongside government grant and utility programs, as building out the necessary charging infrastructure ahead of market demands will require continued public-private partnership. Both companies will continue working with key stakeholders to leverage new and existing public-private programs to facilitate the acceleration of the EV charging infrastructure needed to support ubiquitous EV adoption.
This EV charging announcement continues GM’s commitment to an all-electric future. At the heart of its strategy are modular propulsion systems and highly flexible global EV platforms powered by its proprietary Ultium batteries. In 2019, GM announced the creation of Ultium Cells LLC, a joint venture with LG Chem to mass-produce battery cells in Ohio for future battery-electric vehicles, and that GM is working with Qmerit to create a more accessible at-home charging solution.
The Ultium batteries are intended for varied applications, from affordable to luxury, work-truck, and high-performance vehicles. One of those revealed in August will be Cadillac’s first fully electric vehicle, the Lyriq. Earlier this year, GM announced that the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant will be GM’s first plant that is 100% devoted to electric vehicles; in Fall 2021, it will start building the new GMC Hummer truck EV. The first “long-range” affordable EV, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, will serve as the foundation for the Bolt EUV crossover in 2021.
