First announced in 2020 and expanded upon in 2021, the collaboration will lead to the development and installation of 3,250 DC fast charging stalls in major metro markets.
To date, EVgo and GM have opened fast charging stalls across nearly 230 locations in 39 markets covering 27 states, with the majority featuring high-power 350kW fast charging. EVgo and GM are working together to broaden access to public charging where EV drivers already spend time, such as grocery stores, retail centres and city centres, while also serving the need for customers who are unable to charge at home or work, such as renters and those living in multifamily dwellings.
EVgo is one of GM’s preferred EV charge point operators within its holistic Ultium Charge 360 initiative. Beyond collaborating to expand public charging access, EVgo and GM are also working together to further improve reliability and enhance customer experience. They have initiated a comprehensive action-oriented plan, including enhanced health checks across the network and customer education through GM’s dealer network to help new EV buyers navigate public charging for the first time. The companies also helped to launch Plug and Charge in 2022, a feature that allows drivers to start a session simply by plugging in - no additional payment authentication needed.
“As GM advances its vision of an all-electric future, it’s imperative we expand public charging infrastructure to complement the rapid expansion of our breakthrough EV portfolio. Together, these two efforts are making ‘EVs for everybody’ a reality,” says Hoss Hassani, GM Vice president of charging and energy. “This milestone with EVgo underscores our commitment to supporting more customers as they switch to an EV lifestyle, by expanding access to convenient charging everywhere.”
A ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the 1,000th stall was held in Woodridge, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, at the recently completed charging station at the Woodgrove Festival Shopping Mall. The station is in a prime retail location within a short drive of Interstates 55 and 355.
EV adoption is accelerating in Illinois, where legislation passed in 2021 established a goal of reaching one million registered EVs by 2030 and created new vehicle and charging infrastructure incentives to be administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). In addition to the IEPA programs, Illinois will spend US$148 million installing EV charging stations along interstate corridors over the next five years as part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program, supporting the expansion of public charging that will be needed as more drivers in the Midwest make the switch to electric.
