Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
General Motors is crafting what it calls a "holistic" electric vehicle charging approach as the automaker launches new EVs and invests big in the technology.
Why it matters: GM's betting its future on EVs! But the hassle of charging is a big obstacle to mass adoption.
- While most owners will charge at home, or even at work, people want assurance they can find plugs as easily as finding gas stations.
How it works: The automaker on Wednesday unveiled Ultium Charge 360, an approach that integrates outside providers, GM vehicle mobile apps, and other services.
- It's the next phase of GM's strategy that eschews Tesla's model of an exclusive network.
- Instead, GM wants to make it easy to charge at any public station — without juggling multiple apps or third-party memberships.
Where it stands: GM now has signed agreements with Blink Charging, ChargePoint, EV Connect, EVgo and three others, and it plans to add more.
- The company said its drivers will soon have access to 60,000 plug points in the U.S and Canada.
- It also covers the costs of installing home Level 2 charging for Chevy Bolt customers via work with the company Qmerit.
The bottom line: The stakes are high for GM, which plans to launch 30 EVs globally by 2025 as it invests many billions of dollars.