Electric

Seven Automakers Partner on EV Chargers to Beat Tesla at Its Own Game

by Guillaume Rivard

BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis announced on Wednesday they will form a joint venture to develop a new, high-powered charging network in North America in order to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. 

Without specifying a timetable, they said their goal is to offer at least 30,000 fast chargers across the continent, accessible to all battery-powered EVs from any automaker using the Combined Charging System (CCS) or North American Charging Standard (NACS). The latter, developed by Tesla, will be incorporated into the design of future models from a growing number of companies starting in 2025. This includes Mercedes-Benz and GM. 

The seven allied automakers hope their joint venture will become “the leading network of reliable, high-powered charging stations in North America.” Tesla currently has more than 19,000 Superchargers in the U.S. and Canada.

“North America is one of the world’s most important car markets, with the potential to be a leader in electromobility,” said BMW Group CEO Oliver Zipse. “Accessibility to high-speed charging is one of the key enablers to accelerate this transition. Therefore, seven automakers are forming this joint venture with the goal of creating a positive charging experience for EV consumers. The BMW Group is proud to be among the founders.”

The first stations are expected to open in the U.S. in the summer of 2024 and in Canada at a later stage. Critically, the joint venture intends to power the charging network solely by renewable energy.

Located in metropolitan areas and along major highways, including connecting corridors and vacation routes, the stations will offer canopies wherever possible and amenities such as restrooms, food service and retail operations either nearby or within the same complex. A select number of flagship stations will be equipped with additional amenities, delivering a premier experience designed to showcase the future of charging.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

In the case of Mercedes-Benz, today’s announcement adds to its plan of establishing its own “High-Power Charging Network” with more than 400 “Charging Hubs,” including more than 2,500 high-power chargers in North America by the end of the decade.

The amount each member of the joint venture will invest has not been specified.

All we can say at this point is: good luck. The latest E-Vision Intelligence Report by J.D. Power showed that Supercharger reliability and user satisfaction are much higher than competitors.

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