A new joint venture by seven of the world’s leading automakers is seeking to roll out high-powered charging networks for passenger vehicles to make zero-emission driving even more attractive for millions of customers.
The Mercedes-Benz Group, Stellantis NV, the BMW Group, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai and Kia have come together to form the combined charging system, which will include the development of a network initially across North America with at least 30,000 chargers.
The new charging stations will be accessible to all battery-powered electric vehicles from any automaker using a Combined Charging System (CCS) or a North American Charging Standard (NACS), and are expected to meet or exceed the spirit and requirements of the US National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) programme.
The joint venture, which aims to become the leading network of reliable high-powered charging stations initially in the US, is expected to be established this year, subject to approvals. The first stations are expected to open in the US in the summer of 2024 before being expanded to other countries.
Powered by renewable energy
Each site will be equipped with multiple high-powered DC chargers, making long-distance journeys easier for customers. In line with the sustainability strategies of all seven automakers, the joint venture intends to power the charging network solely by renewable energy.
As more electric vehicles are introduced and the rate of consumer adoption increases, the demand for fast and reliable public charging also grows in parallel. The creation of a best-in-class charging network will ensure that the EV infrastructure will support current and projected EV sales and will foster the adoption of electric vehicles, the automakers said.
Mary Barra, CEO, GM said: “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. The better experience people have, the faster EV adoption will grow.”
Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe noted: “The creation of EV charging services is an opportunity for automakers to produce excellent user experiences by providing complete, convenient and sustainable solutions for our customers. Toward that objective, this joint venture will be a critical step in accelerating EV adoption… and supporting our efforts to achieve carbon neutrality.”