Seven of the globe’s biggest automobile manufacturers are launching an electric vehicle charging system in a striking show of cooperation specifically designed to overcome one of the main obstacles to potential electric vehicle buyers.
The aim is to create the doors to 30,000 high-speed fast-chargers throughout North America, powered by renewable energy. If this is accomplished, it will be a lot more than Tesla’s existing Supercharger network, and could almost double the number of fast chargers that are available across the U.S. today. (In this instance, the term “charger” is the plug that is plugged into. A charging station located at one location usually contains several chargers.)
However, constructing a charging system on this scale is an extremely high hill to climb.
Ionity is a network similar to Ionity in Europe created in a joint venture by several of the same automakers, has produced just 2,600 charging stations since the year 2017.
The U.S., Electrify America is funded by the $2 billion Volkswagen agreed to pay as part of its Dieselgate settlement has installed 3,600 charging stations in five years. Those chargers aren’t always reliable.
In the meantime, Tesla the undisputed market leading company in this area has spent the last decade developing 17,000 charging stations.
The network that was announced recently that hasn’t yet been named, a collaboration that includes BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis (formerly called Fiat Chrysler).
Automobile manufacturers often join forces in joint ventures to help offset the costs associated with research and development or the creation of new automobiles. But an alliance that involves seven carmakers this large is, as the press release states unique to be seen in North America.
Carmakers now getting involved in creating fast chargers on the contrary is a evident model: Tesla.
The pioneer of electric cars realized that fast charging stations was vital prior to the time that Americans would want to spend money on EVs and, therefore, Tesla constructed its own. The reliability of this network played an important role in the rapid rise of Tesla.
The Tesla network for a long time was limited for Tesla owners. However, recently, as part of an agreement made with President Obama’s White House, Tesla opened the doors to some charging stations to all Tesla owners. In a dramatic shift, car manufacturers from other companies are now embracing Tesla technology to gain access to the Supercharger network.
Automakers from other automakers have also looked at building chargers in-person with their customers, some of which are only available to the customers of their clients (like Rivian’s) and others that are open to everyone (like one Mercedes-Benz recently announced).
Nothing can compare to the size of the brand new alliance of 7 automakers.
The chargers, the group claims, will be accessible to all electric vehicle drivers. The companies will not reveal the suppliers they intend to cooperate with to develop chargers, or breakdown the amount of funding offered by the automakers. The group intends to take advantage of incentives offered by the federal government and state governments for fast chargers in order to pay for the construction of the network.
“Each site will be fitted with multiple powerful DC chargers, which will make long distance journeys more convenient for consumers,” they wrote in an announcement jointly. “In keeping with the sustainability plans of the seven automakers, the joint venture plans to charge the charging network entirely through renewable energy sources.”
The majority of electric vehicles, the majority of the time, run using slower chargers, it’s less expensive, easier to use and more efficient for the battery. But the availability of quick chargers is a major issue for consumers. According to studies by J.D. Power, charging access in public places is the top obstacle to potential buyers switching to electric.
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