General Motors Is Addressing Lack of EV Charging Infrastructure
A lack of charging infrastructure is one of the most commonly-cited reasons that buyers say they are hesitant to make the switch to an electric car. While many Americans are able to charge easily at work or at home in their garage or driveway, millions more live in shared accommodations or in communities where parking may be at a premium. Thanks to a partnership between General Motors and its dealers across North America, that perception may start to change. Together, they will be installing 40,000 Level 2 charging stations across the U.S. and Canada – and the chargers will be available to all EV drivers.
The Dealer Community Charging Program, which launched in 2022, was initially only available to Chevrolet dealers, but has now expanded to include the Buick, GMC, and Cadillac brands. The focus of the program is to expand charging access in communities – including underserved rural and urban areas where electric car charging is limited, or even non-existent. Dealers that sign up for the program receive up to 10 19.2-kW Level 2 charging stations, and GM connects dealers with installation providers that can place the charging stations at key community locations So far, nearly 1,000 dealers have enrolled, with many more sure to come.
Doubling Level 2 Public Charging Stations
To put the 40,000 charging stations in context, that number wound nearly double the current number of Level 2 public charging stations across the U.S. and Canada. And their 19.2-kW speed would make them among the fastest and most powerful Level 2 chargers available. The chargers will be manufactured by Flo in Auburn Hills, Michigan, supporting the development of a North American EV charging supply chain.
“Nearly 90% of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a GM dealership,” said Hoss Hassani, vice president of GM’s EV ecosystem. “Our dealers are deeply involved and trusted in their communities and are well positioned to determine locations that expand access to EV charging, including at small businesses, entertainment venues, schools and other popular destinations.”
As such, dealers will be an important enabler of GM’s electric strategy, and in many cases, they will be a significant catalyst for EV adoption in communities that would otherwise have limited EV infrastructure. Being located in communities, where vehicles are parked for longer, the program’s focus on Level 2 charging makes sense; and 19.2-kW chargers should deliver a useful amount of charge while people shop, run errands, and visit community centers with their families.
Bringing Electric Car Charging to Everyone
The Dealer Community Charging Program is just the latest initiative from General Motors to provide a reliable and accessible charging experience to as many drivers as possible – at home, in the community, or on the highway. The company’s investment across public chargers is nearly $750 million, and also includes a collaboration with Pilot Company on a fast-charging network along U.S. highways, and a deal with EVgo to install 3,250 fast chargers in U.S. cities by 2025.
