7 Automakers Team Up for New EV Charging Network: Can It Top Tesla?
Tesla Superchargers may be the undisputed champion of EV charging networks in the US at the moment, but seven major automakers have teamed up to develop their own network, which will launch in the US in summer 2024 and Canada at a later date.
The new network from BMW Group, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz Group, and Stellantis NV will bring at least 30,000 fast chargers to "metropolitan areas and along major highways, including connecting corridors and vacation routes, aiming to offer a charging station wherever people may choose to live, work and travel," according to a joint press release.
The stated goal is to facilitate electric vehicle adoption, with an unspoken implication that it's time to offer drivers a Supercharger alternative that's as reliable, expansive, and technologically advanced as Tesla's stations. The charging facilities built by the new venture will be integrated with these automakers' in-vehicle dash screens and mobile apps, allowing drivers to reserve chargers, find them along their route, pay for the session, and more. They will also be powered by all renewable energy.
"The creation of EV charging services is an opportunity for automakers to produce excellent user experiences by providing complete, convenient, and sustainable solutions for our customers," says Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe. "Toward that objective, this joint venture will be a critical step in accelerating EV adoption across the US and Canada and supporting our efforts to achieve carbon neutrality.”
The stations will have both Combined Charging System (CCS) and Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging ports. In the past few months, multiple automakers announced plans to switch from building their
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