We recently reported that the American EV charging network is woefully underdeveloped in most states, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a significant effort underway to improve the situation. The most recent development involves General Motors and EVgo, which are partnering to build 400 ultra-fast chargers across the country.
It’s important to note that 400 chargers means 400 plugs, not charging stations. In any case, the locations will be considered “flagship destinations,” offering 350kW DC fast chargers, better lighting, and security cameras. The partners plan to locate the charging locations near amenities like restaurants and shopping destinations.
EVgo will employ its prefabricated chargers to reduce costs by up to 15 percent and installation times by up to half. The chargers already have stalls and other gear attached, making it much easier, cheaper, and quicker to spin up new locations.
While it’s a step in the right direction, 400 new charging plugs won’t exactly put a significant dent in the country’s EV infrastructure problem. That said, other companies are working toward similar goals, with major travel centers, automakers, and charging networks coming together to build new locations and charging points across the country.
Even with a more robust charging situation in the U.S., owning an EV may still be a hassle for people who can’t charge at home. Public charging locations are great, but a more substantial effort needs to be made to reach apartment dwellers and urban residents who don’t have a dedicated parking spot or driveway location to install a charger.
[Images: refrina, Tada Images, Jonathan Weiss via Shutterstock]
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