Another charging giant emerges in North America! Seven major car companies from Europe, America, Japan, and South Korea join forces to create an electric vehicle charging network.

On Wednesday, July 26th, according to a joint statement, seven automotive giants from Japan, South Korea, Europe, and North America announced the formation of a new company to provide electric vehicle charging services in North America. The company plans to install at least 30,000 fast-charging stations and aims to leverage subsidies from the US government. If successful, this will be another large-scale electric vehicle charging network outside of Tesla's dominance.

The joint venture plans to open its first batch of charging stations in the summer of 2024, primarily focusing on urban areas and highways. These stations, similar to gas stations, will be equipped with multiple fast-charging DC stations. Where possible, these locations will provide sheltered canopies and convenient facilities such as restrooms, dining services, and retail businesses nearby or within the same complex. Some flagship stations will have additional service facilities.

The joint venture has the support of General Motors, Stellantis, Hyundai, Kia, Honda, Mercedes-Benz Group, and BMW.

The charging stations installed by this joint venture will support two connectors: Tesla's dominant NACS and the Combined Charging System (CCS) that many automakers have been using. The joint venture will utilize both public and private funding to build this network.

It is expected that the investments from Tesla and this newly formed joint venture will meet the requirements of the US Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan, which aims to support the installation of 500,000 supercharging stations in the United States.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra stated:

General Motors' commitment to an all-electric future is not only focused on providing customers with beloved electric vehicles but also investing in charging and the work of the entire industry to make it more accessible. With these charging facilities, consumer demand for electric vehicles will grow even faster.

Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, said:

Given the significant growth expected in the electric vehicle market, we intend to exceed customer expectations by creating more seamless charging experiences. We believe that a large-scale charging network is crucial to safeguarding the rights of vehicle owners. All of this is closely related to our ambitious carbon-neutral plans.

As Tesla's charging network opens up to more and more automakers, competition in the electric vehicle charging field is becoming increasingly fierce. This month, Mercedes announced that its customers will be able to use Tesla chargers in North America by 2024, and the company also announced plans to establish its own charging network. Electrify America, a charging company owned by Volkswagen Group, stated in June of this year that it will provide Tesla charging connectors within its North American network by 2025. General Motors, Ford, and Rivian have all expressed their adoption of Tesla's charging standard. Last year, Electrify America operated 3,737 supercharging stations in the United States, second only to Tesla's 13,878.

Currently, one of the biggest concerns for consumers choosing electric vehicles in North America is the lack of widespread charging infrastructure. According to data from the US Department of Energy, there are currently approximately 32,000 public DC fast-charging stations in the United States, capable of charging 2.3 million electric vehicles. According to the estimation of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the United States, by 2030, the United States will need 182,000 DC fast chargers to support 42 million electric vehicles at that time.