A new joint venture will be established in North America by seven major global automakers to create a public EV charging network.
The automakers involved in the venture are BMW Group, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis. They aim to significantly increase access to high-powered charging in North America by installing at least 30,000 charging points in urban and highway locations. The goal is to ensure customers can conveniently charge their electric vehicles whenever and wherever they need.
This charging network will provide an elevated customer experience with reliable and high-powered charging capability. It will also offer digital integration, appealing locations, various amenities, and exclusively use renewable energy sources. Furthermore, the network will be accessible to all battery-powered electric vehicles, regardless of the automaker, as it will support both Combined Charging System (CCS) and North American Charging Standard (NACS) connectors.
The first charging stations are scheduled to open in the United States in summer 2024, with Canada following at a later stage. These stations will be strategically deployed in metropolitan areas, major highways, connecting corridors, and vacation routes to ensure accessibility for customers in various locations.
Each site will feature multiple high-powered DC chargers and include amenities such as canopies, restrooms, food service, and retail operations. Some flagship stations may even offer additional amenities. The network will seamlessly integrate with participating automakers’ in-vehicle and in-app experiences, enabling functions such as reservations, intelligent route planning and navigation, payment applications, and transparent energy management.
The coalition aims to become the leading network of reliable high-powered charging stations in North America, meeting or exceeding the requirements of the US National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. The joint venture is expected to be established this year, pending customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.