Growth of EV Charging Infrastructure
Those watching the electric car space have been wondering, with a new federal administration incoming, whether the growth of public charging infrastructure in the United States will slow down. A recent report from Automotive News, which interviewed several industry experts, suggests that isn’t likely. Most of the $5 billion earmarked by the federal government to invest in charging infrastructure has already been distributed to various states, who are now responsible for managing their own infrastructure programs to support EV charging.
So far, eleven states have opened charging sites funded by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, with a lot more coming as new charging stations get completed and come online. The five-year program, which aims to create a network of public charging stations every 50 miles along interstates, was started in 2021, and has already allocated more than $2.4 billion. Because of that, it will be nearly impossible to slow down the growth of charging infrastructure.
GM Energy and ChargePoint Partnership
While it can often feel like the headlines are filled with doom and gloom about the electric vehicle transition going backwards, it’s all still happening. In October, EV sales hit a new record in the U.S., and charging networks are continuing to grow in new and innovative ways. The latest? A partnership between venerable ChargePoint, which has been in the charging business since 2007, and General Motors’ division GM Energy. Together, the two companies will be opening 500 ultra-fast DC Fast Chargers, using the latest technology and offering impressive customer convenience.
The new GM Energy charging locations, the first of which will open in 2025, will be branded GM Energy, and the two companies say the 500 chargers will be located at “strategic locations around the U.S.” – meaning high-traffic areas where a lot of EV drivers will need a quick fill-up. Expect them at highway service stops and busy exits on major interstates.
Fastest EV Chargers on the Market
As such, the chargers will be equipped for customers to charge as rapidly as possible. Featuring ChargePoint’s latest Express Plus platform, the companies say the chargers will be capable of delivering charging speeds of up to 500 kW. This would make them not only the fastest public chargers currently available, but also capable of comfortably exceeding the charging ability of any electric vehicle currently on sale, making them future-proof for many years to come.
Future-proof also describes the charging ports themselves, which will have ChargePoint’s Omni Port, allowing vehicles with either a CCS-style (currently used by most manufacturers other than Tesla) or NACS-style (used by Tesla, but set to be adopted by all manufacturers selling vehicles in North America over the coming years) charging port to connect without the use of an adapter. That means better reliability, better safety, and higher maximum charging speeds.
Pull-Through Setup for Maximum Convenience
A rendering shared by GM Energy and ChargePoint also shows that the charging stations will be configured somewhat differently to what we’re used to. Instead of chargers positioned in front of parking spaces, like you often find in mall parking lots or other locations, the chargers are positioned on islands in between drive-through lanes, similar to the setup you’d commonly find at a gas station. That means it should be easy for any EV to charge conveniently, no matter where its charging port is positioned. The ability to pull through should also make it easier for EVs that are pulling trailers to grab a quick charge, something that is very difficult with the way most public chargers are currently set up.
“The transition to electric mobility continues to be driven by leaders such as General Motors offering innovative EVs and committing to make chargers as ubiquitous as possible,” said Rick Wilmer, CEO of ChargePoint. “Our collaboration with GM represents a significant investment in the infrastructure to enable fast and easy charging for all. Together, ChargePoint and GM will deliver a seamless fast charging experience.”
“Continuing to provide customers with better charging options helps to remove barriers to EV adoption and improve the ownership experience,” said Wade Sheffer, vice-president of GM Energy. “We are proud that this collaboration with ChargePoint adds even more reliable, accessible, and convenient charging experiences.”
