Seven major global automakers announced a joint venture to create a new charging network for the North American market.
The joint venture, comprising General Motors, BMW Group, Hyundai, Honda, Mercedes-Benz Group, Kia, and Stellantis NV, aims to establish a network of more than 30,000 high-powered charger points in both highway and urban locations. A press release by the joint venture said that the automakers expect the first stations to be operative in the United States next summer and in Canada at a later stage. The companies also intend to power the charging network exclusively using renewable energy.
The charging stations will use Combined Charging System or North American Charging Standard connectors to offer services to all battery-powered electric vehicles. Each location will feature multiple high-powered DC chargers.
Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe said the joint venture would be critical in boosting electric vehicle (EV) adoption across North America and supporting efforts to reach carbon neutrality. As of July 2023, the Department of Energy reports that the U.S. has 32,000 DC fast chargers available to the public. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the U.S. will need 182,000 DC fast chargers to accommodate the anticipated 30-42 million plug-in vehicles by 2030.
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