General Motors (GM) together with its partners, Pilot Travel Centers and EVgo, will build 2,000 charging stations at 500 Pilot Flying J locations across the United States. The company did not answer questions about fees or how much would be paid to take advantage of this facility.
GM said it was relying on government grant money and programs from utilities to help put the charging grid in place. Construction will begin this summer with the first chargers operational sometime in 2023.
“The (charger) grid should be finished within a few years,” said GM spokesman Philip Lienert.
GM says these charging networks will run along highways to allow for interstate travel. When completed, the charger will help US President Joe Biden’s administration move toward its goal of as many as 500,000 charging stations nationwide by 2030.
America is shifting from conventional to electric vehicles, to fight climate change. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Act passed by Congress provided half of the $15 billion for the vision.
According to National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, the $7.5 billion figure for charging stations has been a catalyst for industrial investment. “It’s great to see leading companies respond by setting ambitious goals of their own, and investing in convenient, reliable and affordable nationwide charging networks,” he said.
The Department of Transportation said $5 billion of the $7.5 billion for EV chargers will go to states that can partner with other groups. The remaining US$2.5 billion will be used for competitive grants to charge projects.
On the other hand, GM has targeted to produce electric vehicles only by 2035. The company aims to have 30 electric vehicle models for sale globally by 2025.
The company has also pledged to invest nearly $750 million in chargers. GM car owners will get exclusive charging discounts and reservations on its charging network.
