7 Global Automakers to Create Massive North American Charging Network

Tesla's Supercharger network has some competition in the form of modern Voltron.

Seven major global automakers – BMW Group, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz Group, Stellantis NV – will create a new charging network joint venture that will significantly expand access to high-powered charging in North America.

They’re targeting to install at least 30,000 high-powered charge points in urban and highway locations use renewable energy.

The charging stations will be accessible to all EV customers, offering both Combined Charging System (CCS) and North American Charging Standard (NACS) connectors.

This Group of 7 is coming after Tesla directly as it aims to become the leading network of reliable high-powered charging stations in North America.

Honing in on customer comfort and charging ease, charging stations will be in convenient locations, offering canopies wherever possible and amenities such as restrooms, food service and retail operations either nearby or within the same complex.

Initial plans will see these in metropolitan areas and along major highways, including connecting corridors and vacation routes, aiming to offer a charging station wherever people may choose to live, work and travel.

The functions and services of the network will enable seamless integration with participating automakers’ in-vehicle and in-app experiences, including reservations, intelligent route planning and navigation, payment applications, transparent energy management and more. Also, they’ll use Plug & Charge technology to further enhance the customer experience.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, as of July 2023, there are 32,000 publicly available DC fast chargers in the United States for use by 2.3 million electric vehicles, a ratio of 72 vehicles per charger. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that 182,000 DC fast chargers will be needed to support the 30-42 million plug-in vehicles expected on the road by 2030.

With U.S. electric vehicle sales expected to exceed 50% of total U.S. sales by 2030, more chargers are needed ASAP and this could very well be the solution.

These seven want a best-in-class charging network to ensure that the EV infrastructure will support current and projected EV sales and will help in the adoption of electric vehicles.

First stations are scheduled to open in the summer of 2024.