Seven major global automotive manufacturers – BMW Group, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes- Benz Group, and Stellantis NV – are looking to create a new joint venture in North America with the plan to develop a high-powered charging network with at least 30,000 chargers.
Those charge points are targeted to be installed in urban and highway locations with the companies saying the focus is ‘on delivering an elevated customer experience’ and that ‘the network will provide reliability, high-powered charging capability, digital integration, appealing locations, various amenities while charging, and use renewable energy.’
Charging stations will be accessible to all EV customers, offering both Combined Charging System (CCS) and North American Charging Standard (NACS) connectors and are expected to ‘meet or exceed the spirit and requirements of the U.S. National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program.’
That program, established in the U.S. as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, is aimed to help fund the building of EV charging infrastructure across the country.
The joint venture between the seven manufacturers is expected to be established this year, subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
Each charging site will be equipped with multiple high-powered DC chargers, with the companies saying they intend to power the charging network solely by renewable energy.
The stations will, they add, be in convenient locations offering canopies wherever possible and amenities such as restrooms, food service and retail operations either nearby or within the same complex.
Initial plans call for the deployment of charging stations in metropolitan areas and along major highways, including connecting corridors and vacation routes, aiming to offer a charging station wherever people may choose to live, work and travel.
The functions and services of the network will allow for integration with participating manufacturers’ in-vehicle and in-app experiences, including reservations, intelligent route planning and navigation, payment applications, transparent energy management and more. In addition, the network will leverage Plug & Charge technology.
The first joint venture stations are scheduled to open in the summer of 2024.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, as of July 2023, there are 32,000 publicly available DC fast chargers in the United States for use by 2.3 million electric vehicles. The NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) estimates that 182,000 DC fast chargers will be needed to support 30-42 million plug-in vehicles expected on the road by 2030.
“North America is one of the world’s most important car markets – with the potential to be a leader in electromobility,” said BMW Group CEO Oliver Zipse, in a joint media release with CEOs from the other joint venture manufacturers. “Accessibility to high-speed charging is one of the key enablers to accelerate this transition.
Therefore, seven automakers are forming this joint venture with the goal of creating a positive charging experience for EV consumers. The BMW Group is proud to be among the founders.”
Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (August 2023)
13 August 2023