General Motors has kicked off the implementation of its “Dealer Community Charging Program” announced a year ago to build up to 40,000 AC charging stations by dealers in the US and Canada. The first of these charging stations have now been installed in Wisconsin and Michigan.
So far, nearly 1,000 GM dealers have signed up to participate, which represents just under a quarter of all GM dealers in North America. But, as reported, the provision of charging structure will not be bound to the exact locations of GM dealerships but should serve the communities around the dealerships. Participating dealers are eligible to receive up to ten 19.2-kilowatt Level 2 charging stations, after which GM then puts dealers in touch with installation providers as needed to place the charging stations at key locations in the community.
The charging points are to be available for public use. GM also specifically aims to improve charging coverage in underserved, rural and urban areas. The US carmaking giant points out that nearly 90 per cent of the US population lives within ten miles of a GM dealership.
“Our dealers are deeply involved and trusted in their communities and are well positioned to determine locations that expand access to EV charging, including at small businesses, entertainment venues, schools and other popular destinations,” said Hoss Hassani, vice president of GM EV Ecosystem. “Our dealers are an important enabler of our all-electric future and, in many cases, will be the catalyst for EV adoption in communities that would otherwise have limited EV infrastructure.”
GM ultimately intends to install up to 40,000 Level 2 charging stations in the US and Canada under the programme, nearly doubling the current number of public Level 2 charging stations.
The programme was initially opened to Chevrolet dealers earlier this year and will be expanded to Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealers in January 2023. FLO, the charging network operator, was awarded the contract to build the charging stations. The company is building chargers in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
gm.com, prnewswire.com
Keyword: GM kicks off Dealer Community Charging Program