The BMW Group, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz Group, and Stellantis NV – have announced a joint venture designed to make EV charging more convenient, accessible and reliable while accelerating the transition to EVs across the North America region.
The joint venture will see the automakers develop a new, high-powered charging network encompassing at least 30,000 chargers – leveraging public and private funds to accelerate their installation. The new charging stations will be accessible to all BEVs, including those that use Combined Charging System (CCS) or North American Charging Standard (NACS), and are expected to meet the requirements of the U.S. National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. The joint venture is expected to be established this year, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
The first stations operated through the JV are expected to open in the United States during the summer of 2024 and in Canada at a later stage. Each site will be equipped with multiple high-powered DC chargers to provide more power for customers making long-distance journeys. In line with the sustainability strategies of all seven automakers, the JV intends to power the charging network solely through renewable energy.
Focused on customer comfort and charging ease, the stations will be situated in convenient locations – offering canopies where possible and amenities such as restrooms, food service and retail operations nearby, or within, the same complex. A select number of flagship stations will provide further amenities to deliver a premier experience designed to showcase the future of charging. Initially, the joint venture will deploy its charging stations in metropolitan areas and along major highways, including connecting corridors and vacation routes.
The core functions and services of the network will allow for integration with the in-vehicle and in-app experiences offered by the participating OEMs – including reservations, intelligent route planning and navigation, payment applications, transparent energy management and more. The network will likewise leverage Plug & Charge technology to further enhance the customer experience.