Public charging is one of the biggest barriers to electric vehicle (EV) ownership. Even though more than 80 percent of EV drivers do most of their charging at home, the public is still rightly concerned about where they can charge up when out on the road.
In addition to the Inflation Reduction Act, which put billions of government money into funding a more robust charging infrastructure, automakers have been investing money into electric vehicle charging stations as well.
General Motors just announced a deal to put chargers at Pilot J Travel Centers, Mercedes-Benz is partnering with another roadside convenience center Buc-ee's and Volvo is making good on a promise from last year.
At Pilot and Flying J travel centers GM and EVgo are installing new fast charging stations. Today the company announced the opening of the first 17 locations now available in 13 states. They will offer EV EV travelers access to the same amenities offered at existing Pilot and Flying J travel center locations including multiple fast charging stalls that are long for EV towing and well-lit, canopies to protect drivers from weather, restrooms, Wi-Fi and more.
GM says that by the end of 2023, it is expected that at least 25 Pilot and Flying J travel centers will feature EV fast charging. The company plans for another 175 locations by the end of next year and when all is finished it wants 2,000 fast charging stalls at 500 locations. Like Volvo, the company says the expansion locations have been strategically selected.
Mercedes, in addition to the charging hubs it is installing at its headquarters and other locations, committed to invest over $1 billion, in a joint venture with MN8 Energy, to deliver 2,500 chargers within at least 400 charging hubs across North America by the end of the decade. That includes several hubs at Buc-ee's travel centers in Texas, Florida, Alabama, and Georgia by the end of 2023, with further expansion in 2024. Both the Mercedes hubs and Buc-ee's will be open to all drivers.
In May of 2022 Volvo said it would start installing DC fast chargers at Starbucks coffee stores across the Pacific Northwest. Stores are now starting to pop up along the 1,350-mile route from Seattle to Denver. So far 50 have been installed at 15 locations, situated about 100 miles apart from each other. Volvo notes that its XC40 and C40 Recharge models would regain 110 miles in 15 minutes at one of the stations.
The ChargePoint branded stations will be available to reserve through Volvo's integrated Google setup in the navigation app while other drivers using a standard CCS1 or CHAdeMO receptacle can use the ChargePoint smartphone app. The route also passes through several Federal Opportunity Zones bringing charging access to neighborhoods that previously didn't have it.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Jake Lingeman is the Managing Editor for the Autos team at Newsweek. He has previously worked for Autoweek, The Detroit ... Read more
