GM, Pilot Gas Stations Partner on Nationwide EV Fast Charging Network
One Big Mac with a side of kilowatt-hours, please. Battery- and gas-powered driving experiences are about to get a lot more similar with a new network of 2,000 electric vehicle chargers coming to 500 Pilot gas stations and rest stops from coast to coast.
The project was designed and funded in a four-way partnership between automaker GM, Pilot, the US Department of Transportation, and charging company EVGo in the hopes of “accelerating widespread adoption of EVs,” according to a press release(Opens in a new window).
The first of these charging stations, as shown in the map below, are expected to come online in 2023. EVgo has also been working with GM to add more than 3,250 fast chargers in American cities and suburbs by the end of 2025.
The focus is fast charging, meaning up to 350kWh of power per station. In 30-45 minutes, drivers should be able to reach a full battery in most vehicles. Even a 15-minute top-off will make a noticeable increase in range. EVGo, which has the largest network of fast chargers in the nation, will provide the stations, which will be located at 50-mile intervals along major highways that run through rural and urban communities.
Since powering up typically takes longer than most drivers would like, Pilot will enhance the experience with premium amenities such as free Wi-Fi, canopies to protect from the elements, indoor lounge areas, modernized restrooms, on-site restaurants, and retail shopping outlets customers can explore while charging. The stations, called “Pilot Flying J travel centers,” will be open 24/7.
Once drivers complete a one-time activation of GM's Plug and Charge(Opens in a new window) feature within a mobile app, drivers can immediately plug in the cable and begin charging without
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