Big carmakers unite to build a charging network and reassure reluctant EV buyers

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Big carmakers unite to build a charging network and reassure reluctant EV buyers NPR

Seven of the world's largest carmakers are launching a new electric vehicle charging network, in an unusual display of cooperation that's designed to address one of the major deterrents for would-be electric vehicle purchasers.

The goal is to open 30,000 new high-speed fast-chargers in North America, powered by renewable energy. If achieved, that would be significantly larger than Tesla's current Supercharger network, and would nearly double the number of fast chargers available in the U.S. today. (In this case, a "charger" refers to an individual plug. A charging station at a single location often has multiple chargers.)

But building a charging network of that scale will be a very high mountain to climb.

Ionity, a similar network in Europe launched as a joint venture between many of the same automakers, has built only 2,600 chargers since 2017.

In the U.S., Electrify America — bankrolled by $2 billion that Volkswagen paid as part of the Dieselgate settlement — has installed 3,600 in five years, and those chargers struggle with reliability.

Meanwhile Tesla, the undisputed leader in this space, has spent a full decade building 17,000 chargers.

The newly announced network, which has not yet been named, is a partnership between BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis (formerly known as Fiat Chrysler).

Automakers frequently pair up in joint ventures to to defray costs of research and development or new vehicles. However, a joint venture like this between seven carmakers of this size is — as the automakers' press release notes — unprecedented in North America.

Carmakers getting involved in building fast chargers, on the other hand, has a very clear precedent: Tesla.

The electric car pioneer calculated that having a network of fast chargers was essential before Americans would be willing to buy EVs, so Tesla built its own. The reliability of that network played a key role in Tesla's meteoric rise.

For many years Tesla's network was only open to Tesla owners. But recently, in a deal with the White House, Tesla opened up some chargers to all EV drivers. And in a cataclysmic shift, rival car companies are embracing Tesla technology in exchange for access to its Supercharger network.

Other individual automakers have also explored building chargers directly, some closed to just their customers (like Rivian's) and others open to all (like one Mercedes-Benz announced this year).

But nothing rivals the scale of the new 7-automaker alliance.

These chargers, the group says, will be open to all EV drivers. The companies would not identify any suppliers they plan to work with to build out chargers, or break down the amount of funding being provided by each automaker. The group plans to access federal and state incentives for fast chargers to help cover the cost of building the network.

"Each site will be equipped with multiple high-powered DC chargers, making long-distance journeys easier for customers," the automakers wrote in a joint statement. "In line with the sustainability strategies of all seven automakers, the joint venture intends to power the charging network solely by renewable energy."

Most electric vehicles, most of the time, charge on much slower chargers; that's cheaper, more convenient and easier on the battery. But the availability of fast chargers remains a significant concern for shoppers. According to surveys by J.D. Power, access to chargers in public is the #1 concern keeping would-be buyers from going electric.
 
Big carmakers unite to build a charging network and reassure reluctant EV buyers NPR

Seven of the world's largest carmakers are launching a new electric vehicle charging network, in an unusual display of cooperation that's designed to address one of the major deterrents for would-be electric vehicle purchasers.

The goal is to open 30,000 new high-speed fast-chargers in North America, powered by renewable energy. If achieved, that would be significantly larger than Tesla's current Supercharger network, and would nearly double the number of fast chargers available in the U.S. today. (In this case, a "charger" refers to an individual plug. A charging station at a single location often has multiple chargers.)

But building a charging network of that scale will be a very high mountain to climb.

Ionity, a similar network in Europe launched as a joint venture between many of the same automakers, has built only 2,600 chargers since 2017.

In the U.S., Electrify America — bankrolled by $2 billion that Volkswagen paid as part of the Dieselgate settlement — has installed 3,600 in five years, and those chargers struggle with reliability.

Meanwhile Tesla, the undisputed leader in this space, has spent a full decade building 17,000 chargers.

The newly announced network, which has not yet been named, is a partnership between BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis (formerly known as Fiat Chrysler).

Automakers frequently pair up in joint ventures to to defray costs of research and development or new vehicles. However, a joint venture like this between seven carmakers of this size is — as the automakers' press release notes — unprecedented in North America.

Carmakers getting involved in building fast chargers, on the other hand, has a very clear precedent: Tesla.

The electric car pioneer calculated that having a network of fast chargers was essential before Americans would be willing to buy EVs, so Tesla built its own. The reliability of that network played a key role in Tesla's meteoric rise.

For many years Tesla's network was only open to Tesla owners. But recently, in a deal with the White House, Tesla opened up some chargers to all EV drivers. And in a cataclysmic shift, rival car companies are embracing Tesla technology in exchange for access to its Supercharger network.

Other individual automakers have also explored building chargers directly, some closed to just their customers (like Rivian's) and others open to all (like one Mercedes-Benz announced this year).

But nothing rivals the scale of the new 7-automaker alliance.

These chargers, the group says, will be open to all EV drivers. The companies would not identify any suppliers they plan to work with to build out chargers, or break down the amount of funding being provided by each automaker. The group plans to access federal and state incentives for fast chargers to help cover the cost of building the network.

"Each site will be equipped with multiple high-powered DC chargers, making long-distance journeys easier for customers," the automakers wrote in a joint statement. "In line with the sustainability strategies of all seven automakers, the joint venture intends to power the charging network solely by renewable energy."

Most electric vehicles, most of the time, charge on much slower chargers; that's cheaper, more convenient and easier on the battery. But the availability of fast chargers remains a significant concern for shoppers. According to surveys by J.D. Power, access to chargers in public is the #1 concern keeping would-be buyers from going electric.
Good. Also I’m going to build my own in my garage if possible. Either solar or a windmill
 
Why aren’t standardized charging ports/cables required by all EV’s sold in the US? It’s fairly early in the industry so why not implement it now? Seems like it would tremendously streamline things instead of the Apple/Android/whatever else type situation we have now.


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Why aren’t standardized charging ports/cables required by all EV’s sold in the US? It’s fairly early in the industry so why not implement it now? Seems like it would tremendously streamline things instead of the Apple/Android/whatever else type situation we have now.


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Who’s going to “require” it?

Particularly when the we are talking about proprietary charging technology.

Government isn’t going to tell all other companies they have to license from Tesla or some other patent holder.
 
Who’s going to “require” it?

Particularly when the we are talking about proprietary charging technology.

Government isn’t going to tell all other companies they have to license from Tesla or some other patent holder.
The EU found a way to do it but the US won't do it because they care more about the corporations than they do the consumer.
 
Who’s going to “require” it?

Particularly when the we are talking about proprietary charging technology.

Government isn’t going to tell all other companies they have to license from Tesla or some other patent holder.

Aren’t emission requirements standardized? 5 mph bumpers and other safety equipment? Don’t know if it’s a govt thing but the hole diameters for gas and diesel nozzles are standard. If everyone but Tesla adopts a single charging port it would be cheaper for Tesla to join in than continue to build stand alone charge stations.


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Aren’t emission requirements standardized? 5 mph bumpers and other safety equipment? Don’t know if it’s a govt thing but the hole diameters for gas and diesel nozzles are standard. If everyone but Tesla adopts a single charging port it would be cheaper for Tesla to join in than continue to build stand alone charge stations.


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Those are all performance standard’s, not dictates as to how those standards are met or what proprietary tech must be used

Holes diameters and nozzle sizes isn’t really proprietary tech, I don’t know if it is a government thing or not (really doubt it), but I bet it was more market driven and developed over time than anything else

If everyone but Tesla agrees to adopt a single charging port, that would be great because it was market drive . In that case, however, no one would be “requiring” it which was my first resone (Whose going to require it?).

To sum up for me….market driven standardization is good.

Governmet mandates standardization requiring the use of particular proprietary methods is fundamentally anti-competitive, stifles technological innovation, and is quite authoritarian.
 
Those are all performance standard’s, not dictates as to how those standards are met or what proprietary tech must be used

Holes diameters and nozzle sizes isn’t really proprietary tech, I don’t know if it is a government thing or not (really doubt it), but I bet it was more market driven and developed over time than anything else

If everyone but Tesla agrees to adopt a single charging port, that would be great because it was market drive . In that case, however, no one would be “requiring” it which was my first resone (Whose going to require it?).

To sum up for me….market driven standardization is good.

Governmet mandates standardization requiring the use of particular proprietary methods is fundamentally anti-competitive, stifles technological innovation, and is quite authoritarian.

Back on this for just a minute… iPhone 15 will switch from lightning cable to USB C charging port in order to meet the EU Universal Charger Mandate for all cell phones and laptops. So why not car chargers?


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