7 Rival Carmakers In The US Band Together To Set Up Public EV Charging Network

No less than seven rivalling carmakers in the US are set to band together and set up their own independent public EV charging network across North America.

It appears that no less than seven rivalling carmakers in the United States of America have rallied together with the common goal of setting up their own independent EV charging network. Amongst them are BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Kia, Honda, General Motors (GM), as well as Stellantis.

Much of this reportedly stems from the poor EV charging station accessibility rate EV users face in the US currently – just one public DC fast charger is accessible for every 72 EV users. Adding to which too is the common desire amongst these carmakers to have their independent EV charging station network rival against the Tesla Supercharger network.

Together, these seven rivals seek to set up no less than 30,000 EV charging stations, the first of which set to be operation by summer 2024.

Together, this coalition seeks to set up no less than 30,000 EV charging stations that are accessible to the public across North America. Most will initially be situated in urban and highway locations "to ensure customers can charge whenever and wherever they need,” says the coalition via an official statement.

Notably, these EV charging stations will be accessible to all battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs) from any automaker, offering both Combined Charging System (CCS) and North American Charging Standard (NACS) connectors, the latter being a proprietary connector type recently introduced this year by Tesla in the US.

German powerhouses BMW and Mercedes-Benz are amongst the seven brands forming this coalition.

Also part of this seven-strong coalition is  Korean marque Hyundai and its sister brand Kia.

In relation to NACS, it’s also worth noting that, of the seven partners entering this venture, just two – GM and Mercedes-Benz – have committed to adopting said Tesla proprietary connector. As for absentees, it includes key names such as Ford, Volvo, Nissan, and Toyota. Volkswagen Group, on the other hand, is also absent, but it has already initiated its own ‘Electrify America’ EV charging network brand instead.

Back to this coalition, each of their planned sites will feature multiple high-powered DC chargers and offer covered canopies wherever possible, along with amenities like restrooms, food service, and retail operations – either nearby or within the same complex. Also, a select number of flagship stations will house additional amenities too, but details for which remain undisclosed.

Two US brands are also part of this 7-strong coalition, one of which being General Motors (GM). The group's stable of brands includes Cadillac (pictured).

Regarding timeline and execution, the first of this coalition’s EV charging stations is slated to open in the US by the summer of 2024, followed by Canada at a later stage. A brand name for this network hasn’t been decided yet, but details surrounding which are expected to be announced by then end of this year.

Crucially, the coalition’s new charging network promises seamless integration with participating automakers' in-vehicle and in-app experiences. This includes reservations, intelligent route planning and navigation, payment applications, transparent energy management, and more.

Stellantis is also part of this coalition. It's core US-specific brands include Chrysler, Dodge,
and RAM (pictured).

Together, this coalition of seven brands mentioned earlier expect their EV charging stations to meet or exceed the spirit and requirements of the US National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. It also aims to become the leading network of reliable high-powered charging stations across the US and Canada.

By the end of this year, this coalition’s seven partners are poised to establish the joint venture, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Should this effort prove its worth, it might set precedence for similar pushes elsewhere worldwide, perhaps here in Malaysia too.

Besides seamless hardware compatibility, this independent network also promises seamless integration with participating automakers' reservations, navigation, and payments schemes.

What do you folks reckon, then? Should car companies in Malaysia consider a similar coalition to further spur quicker pace and bigger growth of the local EV charging infrastructure development? Hit the comments below with your thoughts…