7 automakers team up to cover the US and Canada with fast EV chargers

Date:
Thu, 27 Jul 2023 16:00:00 +0000

Description:
Each fast-charging machine costs somewhere between $100,000 to $200,000. DepositPhotos The earliest stations should come online next summer. The post
7 automakers team up to cover the US and Canada with fast EV chargers
appeared first on Popular Science .

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Each fast-charging machine costs somewhere between $100,000 to $200,000. DepositPhotos

For some drivers, electric vehicles sound pretty awesomeuntil it comes down
to charging. Range anxiety is a real thing, and while there are around 32,000 fast chargers across the US that can refill your EVs battery in half an hour or so, thats still quite small compared to the more than 100,000 gas stations across the US as of 2017 . The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates that there needs to be around 182,000 fast chargers across the country by 2030 to support the 30-42 million predicted EVs on the road.

When it comes to EVs and charging them, Tesla normally makes the biggest headlines, but this time other automakers are stepping up in an
Avengers-style move. This week, a coalition of seven automotive companiesBMW Group, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz Group, and Stellantis NVmade a commitment to bring 30,000 fast chargers to North America . The first of these should come online by summer 2024, according to their announcement.

[Related: Electric cars are better for the environment, no matter the power source .]

To accelerate the shift to electric vehicles, were in favor of anything that makes life easier for our customers, Mercedes-Benz Group CEO Ola Kllenius
said in the statement. Charging is an inseparable part of the EV-experience, and this network will be another step to make it as convenient as possible.

According to Reuters , each fast-charging machine costs somewhere between $100,000 to $200,000, making this endeavor one that could cost billions of dollars. Currently, Tesla has the largest network of fast chargers with
45,000 supercharging locations globally .

Some of the companies involved with this new undertaking include companies such as GM and Mercedes that have already signed on to start using Teslas charging technology , called the North American Charging Standard (NACS), starting in 2025. The others still have product plans using the Combined Charging System (CCS). The new stations, according to the announcement, will offer charging connectors for both systems.

The announcement stated that the network intends to solely run on renewable energy, but a plan for this has not yet been disclosed. The chargers will be concentrated in urban areas and on highways.

We think this is an important step forward, White House press secretary
Karine Jean-Pierre told Reuters. President Joe Biden has previously stated goals to bring 500,000 EV chargers online by 2030 .

[Related: EV adoption doesnt lighten energy costs for all American families .]

Currently, the vast majority of EV chargers in the US are level 2 chargers, which can take anywhere from four to 10 hours to completely charge a vehicle, according to the Washington Post . Owners of EVs frequently have those
level-2 chargers installed at their homes. System malfunctions also currently run amok a recent survey found that one in five EV owners have rolled up to a charger and were then unable to charge due to issues like system
malfunctions.

We believe that a charging network at scale is vital to protecting freedom of mobility for all, especially as we work to achieve our ambitious carbon neutrality plan, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said in the statement. A
strong charging network should be available for all.

The post 7 automakers team up to cover the US and Canada with fast EV
chargers appeared first on Popular Science . Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.



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Link to news story: https://www.popsci.com/technology/seven-automakers-ev-chargers/


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