GM and Bechtel to Expand U.S. Network of Fast-Charging EV Stations
AAA recently released a study which indicated one of the top fears Americans have about electric cars: that there won’t be enough charging stations. To this end, more U.S. companies are unrolling new programs and initiatives to expand the existing charging network.
And some major automakers are following suit. Per CNN, GM is partnering with construction powerhouse Bechtel to build thousands of EV fast-charging stations nationwide.
The partnership
GM’s role in the project will be to provide the data and experience needed to place the chargers in locations where they’re most needed. By contrast, Bechtel will provide the engineering, construction, and permitting required for establishing the new stations.
The infrastructure project
Though most fast-charging networks in the U.S. have been installed along major highways, the GM-Bechtel project will focus on installing chargers in urban areas. It’s a strategic move, considering that many potential EV owners are city-dwellers who reside in condos and apartments, and don’t have a garage where they can charge their vehicle.
Mike Ableson, GM’s vice president of EV infrastructure and charging, endorsed the project’s target user group: urban residents. “We want to put chargers where they’re going to have the greatest influence on EV adoption wherever that may be.”
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GM’s unique contribution
Not only will GM’s investment in the project help accelerate its plan to introduce 20 new EV models by 2023. On a wider scale, it will help promote EV adoption in the U.S.
Furthermore, GM is poised to have a unique contribution to the GM-Bechtel infrastructure project. Per CNN, the automaker will use data gleaned from millions of EVs, via GM’s OnStar system, to learn when and where EV users tend to drive and park their vehicles. This, in turn, will help GM and Bechtel decide where to install future charging stations.
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