As car buyers continue to worry about the reliability and availability of fast-chargers for long-distance drives in electric vehicles, General Motors and charging company EVgo are adding 400 DC fast-charging stalls with some of the features drivers take for granted at gas stations, like bright lights, security cameras and pull-through stalls to accommodate vehicles towing trailers.
Most of the stations will feature up to 20 stalls — “significantly more” at some, according to GM. Large numbers of stalls like that can help prevent the lines common at some fast chargers, as multiple vehicles wait for their turn at one of just four or six chargers.
“The future of EV charging is larger stall-count locations, high-power charging, and designing around features that customers love,” EVgo President Dennis Kish said. “We need to lead on customer satisfaction, and we will continue to innovate to deliver a charging experience that is convenient, comfortable and dependable for current and future EV drivers.”
Any brand of EV can use the chargers
The chargers will deliver up to 350kW or 800 volts, the highest level that allows the quickest charging. The first flagships will open in 2025.
Fear of long delays and broken chargers are frequently cited as reasons some consumers are reluctant to buy an EV. Locations with 20 or more chargers are extremely rare, even along heavily traveled highways.
The flagship chargers will also have canopies for shelter from the elements, another common feature that was omitted from the first generation of DC fast chargers.
GM and EVgo will locate the stations based on factors including EV registrations, available power, nearby amenities and electricity locations.
The chargers will be co-branded by EVgo and GM Energy, but any EV can use them.
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The flagship stations will be coast to coast, including major metropolitan areas in “states such as Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New York and Texas.”
Plenty more coming
The flagship locations will also be close to shopping, dining, coffee shops and other amenities drivers can use while charging. Stops at fast chargers can take from 5 minutes to 30 or 40 minutes, depending on how low the battery is and a variety of other factors.
“Ensuring that our customers have seamless access to convenient and reliable charging is imperative, and this effort will take it to the next level,” GM Energy Vice President Wade Sheffer said.
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The “vast majority” of the flagship stations will be new locations for EVgo. A few may use existing sites.
Still, 400 more charging stalls is a drop in the bucket as EVs proliferate. GM also is continuing its programs to make DC fast chargers common on intercity routes with Pliot/Jet service plazas and the IONNA consortium of automakers.
GM also has a deal with Tesla for access to the automaker’s Superchargers, the nation’s largest fast-charger network.
Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com . Follow him on Twitter @ mark_phelan . Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter . Become a subscriber .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: GM, EVgo adding 400 ‘flagship’ stations with fast chargers for EVs
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