General Motors, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes and Stellantis said Wednesday that they will share in a multibillion-dollar investment to build "high power" charging stations with at least 30,000 plugs in urban areas and along travel corridors by 2030.The dramatic move is intended to speed the adoption of electric vehicles, allaying fears that chargers won't be available for long distance travel.
There are currently just under 8,700 direct-current fast-charging stations in the U.S. and Canada with nearly 36,000 charging plugs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Even with 30,000 more plugs, the U.S. will need far more chargers. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that 182,000 fast chargers will be needed by 2030.
The network formed by the seven automakers would be public and open to all electric vehicle owners. It will have connectors for both Tesla's North American Charging Standard plugs as well as the Combined Charging System plugs used by other automakers. Brinley said a good charging experience is key to earning the trust of potential EV buyers. "The reality is consumers want to feel comfortable when they charge," she said.