- GM's new EV charging hubs look exactly like gas stations.
- The joint venture with EVgo will produce 400 new charging stalls nationwide.
GM Energy and EVgo are deploying a new network of fast-charging hubs designed to fit in on the classic American road trip.
Several large hubs of roughly 20 fast chargers each are being installed in major metropolitan areas in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New York, and Texas, for a total of 400 new charging stalls.
These pull-through stalls will be protected by a lit canopy and built near retail locations and convenience stores with bathrooms and other amenities, according to GM Energy Vice President Wade Sheffer.
If all of that sounds familiar, that's the idea. You might not even clock one of these GM Energy-EVgo hubs from the road as anything other than another gas station.
"If you're going on a longer trip — maybe you're out doing some shopping or thighs of that nature — we're offering ease, comfort, and reduction of that anxiety," Sheffer said in an interview with Business Insider. "You see it, you know it, you understand it."
The first GM-EVgo flagship charging station is expected to open in 2025, the companies said in their Thursday announcement. This new project builds on the existing relationship between GM and the charging company, which has already resulted in more than 1,000 fast-charging stalls nationwide.
Solving the charging problem
Charging outside the home has long been a pain point for EV drivers. There simply aren't enough places to plug in when you're far from home, which can lead to the dreaded range anxiety.
Efforts to patch holes in US charging infrastructure have resulted in a proliferation of plugs in the last several years. Since 2020, the number of charging stations in the US has more than doubled, and the Biden Administration has set aside $7.5 billion to fund 500,000 new EV charging stations by 2030.
But the very existence of a plug only solves about half of the problem.
Stalls are often tucked away in inconvenient places, many are not well-maintained, and the speed of charging fluctuates based on external factors like weather and battery technology.
In fact, the charging experience has become so bad that some EV drivers are even considering returning to gas-powered cars.
Early adopters in the EV segment were more willing to endure the charging challenges, but a new crop of more practical electric car shoppers will be less patient. These drivers are looking for a charging experience that more closely mirrors a stop at the gas station.
The idea is to give EV drivers a safe and easy "charging in the wild" experience, Sheffer said.
"We're taking every opportunity to provide to our customers the most convenient, the safest and most simplistic way to all-in on the EV lifestyle," Sheffer said.