General Motors and Pilot Co. to Build EV Fast Charging Network with EVgo
2022.07.14 17:24
General Motors and Pilot Co. to Build EV Fast Charging Network with EVgo
By Michael Elkins
General Motors (NYSE:GM) and Pilot Company announced today that they have decided to collaborate on a national DC fast charging network. The network will be installed, operated, and maintained by EVgo Inc (NASDAQ:EVGO), through its eXtend offering.
This network of 2,000 charging stalls, co-branded “Pilot Flying J” and “Ultium Charge 360,” will be powered by EVgo eXtend and open to all EV brands at up to 500 Pilot and Flying J travel centers.
“We are committed to an all-electric, zero-emissions future, and ensuring that the right charging infrastructure is in place is a key piece of the puzzle,” said Mary Barra, GM Chair and Chief Executive Officer. “With travel centers across North America, Pilot Company is an ideal collaborator to reach a broad audience of EV drivers.”
The Pilot and Flying J travel centers plan to feature numerous fast charging stalls provided by EVgo. GM customers will receive special benefits like exclusive reservations, discounts on charging, a streamlined charging process through Plug and Charge and integration into GM’s vehicle brand apps providing real-time charger availability and help with route planning.
“GM and Pilot Company designed this program to combine private investments alongside intended government grant and utility programs to help reduce range anxiety and significantly close the gap in long-distance EV charger demand,” said Shameek Konar, Pilot Company Chief Executive Officer. “Our travel centers are well-equipped to accommodate EV charging with 24/7 amenities and convenient proximity to major roadways across the country. We look forward to collaborating with GM and the U.S. Department of Transportation to make convenient coast-to-coast EV travel a reality through our national network of travel centers.”
GM and Pilot Company will continue working beyond this program with key stakeholders to use new and existing public-private programs to accelerate the development of more public EV charging infrastructure.
EVgo is an EV charting company not without controversy. At the end of June the company was the target of a short-seller report from Fuzzy Panda Research. The report claimed the company is broken while also stating EVGO’s controlling shareholder is connected to Jeffrey Epstein.
Shares of EVGO are up 4% in pre-open trading following this morning’s news.
