General Motors believes the future is with battery-electric vehicles and to further cement that vision, it’s partnering with three of the largest charging networks in the U.S. to make charging easier for current Chevy Bolt and future GM EV owners.
The company is teaming with EVgo, ChargePoint and Greenlots to access the largest collective electric vehicle charging network in the U.S., which includes more than 31,000 charging ports. GM plans to aggregate dynamic data from each of the EV charging networks so owners of the all-electric Bolt can have “a more seamless charging experience” with their vehicles.
“GM believes in an all-electric future, and this is a significant step to make charging easier for our customers,” said Doug Parks, General Motors vice president of Autonomous and Electric Vehicle Programs.
“By collaborating with these three companies, we expect to reduce barriers to create a stronger EV infrastructure for the future. This is an important step toward achieving GM’s vision of a world with zero emissions.”
(Nissan and EVgo completed a 500-mile charging network. Click Here for the story.)
GM plans to use the data it collects from the three networks to update its myChevrolet app, which will allow users to determine if there are open charging stations nearby and if they’re compatible with the Bolt and other bits of data that would make the app a “one-stop shop” for information while a Bolt owner was traveling.
Importantly, GM also expects to make enrollment for charging with these networks easier by creating an app interface for all three networks to streamline charger access and potentially allow activation of a charging session using the app instead of a membership card, the company noted.
(Click Here for more about the challenges mass EV charging presents.)
The myChevrolet app was recently updated to enable projection of the Energy Assist feature to the vehicle’s infotainment system via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for drivers with model year 2017 or newer Bolt EVs.
Original purchasers of new Bolt EVs will have access to these features at no additional cost for five years from the vehicle delivery date after they accept the myChevrolet mobile app terms and review important information about using Energy Assist features within their myChevrolet app. Vehicle users should see user terms for limitations.
(To see more about how a nationwide charging network is falling into place, Click Here.)
GM’s Maven Gig and EVgo partnered in early 2018 to deliver the nation’s first dedicated fast-charging network for on-demand drivers. GM expects to finalize the terms of its collaboration and agreements with EVgo, ChargePoint and Greenlots during the first quarter of 2019.
Why is it that EV articles seem unaware of what the situation is with respect to DC fast charging?
It is quite simple – every automaker except Nissans nd Tesla uses the CCS charging protocol, recently upgraded to 350 and 450KW. I point out that one of Fred Lambert’sTesla-lapdog website’s recent articles on this GM collaboration implied that GM should finance charging networks.The article gave no indication that many companes are out there building out the CCS charging networks- oil companies, European auto companies, VW’s Electrify America, EvGo, etc
Obviously there may be some need early on for automakers to help finance the buildout, but the presence of large numbers of EVs on the road will provide the demand, which will be satisfied they same way every consumer demand is satisfied – with additional supply, in this case of charging stations. In general, there is no reason for automakers to finance charging stations on into the future, anymore than there was a need for automakers to finance gas stations.