GM Partners with 7 Charging Networks for EV Expansion

GM's Comprehensive EV Charging Solution: Ultium Charge 360

General Motors unveiled a four-pronged strategy on Wednesday designed to streamline the entire electric vehicle charging process. This encompasses locating available public chargers and facilitating payment for electricity usage, as the company actively seeks to broaden consumer appeal for the 30 EV models slated for release by 2025.

Addressing the Charging Ecosystem

Dubbed Ultium Charge 360, the initiative—named after the foundational EV platform and battery technology of forthcoming vehicles—is engineered to manage access, payment processing, and customer support related to both at-home and on-the-road charging. Travis Hester, GM’s chief EV officer, indicated that the plan’s implementation will occur over the next 18 months.

As part of this rollout, GM has established partnerships with seven independent charging network providers. These include Blink Charging, ChargePoint, EV Connect, EVgo, FLO, Greenlots, and SemaConnect. EV drivers will be able to access real-time data—such as charger location and availability—for approximately 60,000 charging points across the United States and Canada directly through their existing GM vehicle brand mobile applications.

Expanding Charging Infrastructure

The initial GM and EVgo locations are currently operational in Washington, California, and Florida. Each site is capable of delivering up to 350 kilowatts of power and features an average of four charging stalls. GM anticipates having around 500 fast-charging stalls operational by the close of 2021, in collaboration with EVgo.

Beyond Network Quantity

Hester emphasized that the plan’s success isn’t solely dependent on the number of partner networks. He pointed out that experienced EV owners recognize that a robust charging infrastructure is far more complex than simply increasing the number of available networks.

The GM app will provide drivers with route planning assistance, enabling them to locate stations and initiate and pay for charging sessions. Ongoing updates to the mobile application are planned. Furthermore, GM intends to offer a range of charging accessories and professional installation services for home charging setups.

Home Charging Incentives

The automaker announced it will cover the standard installation costs for Level 2 charging capability for qualifying customers who purchase or lease a 2022 Bolt EUV or Bolt EV, through a collaboration with Qmerit.

Future Capabilities: Plug and Charge

The announcement did not detail the inclusion of Plug and Charge functionality. This technology allows for automatic charging initiation and payment upon connection, eliminating the need for app-based processes. Alex Keros, GM’s lead architect for EV infrastructure, stated that while no immediate announcements regarding Plug and Charge were being made, the company acknowledges its importance in enhancing the overall customer experience.

He affirmed that enabling this seamless interaction will be a crucial element in future developments.