GM’s new EV charging hubs look exactly like gas stations
A rendering of one of GM Energy and EVgo’s fast-charging hubs.
GM Energy and EVgo are deploying a new network of EV fast-charging hubs designed to fit within the classic American road trip.
Twenty 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 charging stalls.
These pull-through stalls will be sheltered under a lit canopy and are planned to be built alongside bathrooms and other amenities, with convenience stores and shopping areas nearby, according to Wade Sheffer, GM Energy’s vice president.
If all 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 things of that nature — we’re offering ease, comfort, and reduction of that anxiety,” Sheffer said in an interview with B-17. “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 an announcement Thursday. This project builds on the 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 electric-vehicle 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 past 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 existence of a plug solves only about half of the problem.
Stalls are often tucked away in inconvenient places, many are not well maintained, and their charging speed fluctuates based on external factors such as weather and battery technology.
In fact, some electric-car drivers find the charging experience so bad that they’re considering returning to gas-powered rides.
Early adopters of EVs seemed more willing to endure the charging challenges, but a new crop of electric-car shoppers seek practicality and have less patience. 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.
