[ChasingCoral]

GM aims for rural EV drivers with vast Level 2 charging network

Under the program, dealers are eligible to receive up to 10 19.2-kw Level 2 charging stations to be installed in communities.

www.greencarreports.com

GM aims for rural EV drivers with vast Level 2 charging network

STEPHEN EDELSTEIN DECEMBER 8, 2022

General Motors is about to undertake what it claims is the largest deployment of Level 2 EV chargers in North America.

The automaker this week announced the official launch of its Dealer Community Charging Program with the installation of the first charging stations in Wisconsin and Michigan. GM aims to install up to 40,000 Level 2 chargers in the U.S. and Canada through the program. Those chargers will be open to all EV drivers, not just owners of GM vehicles.

GM is looking to its dealerships to deploy these chargers. Since the program was announced in October 2021, nearly 1,000 dealerships have enrolled, according to a GM press release. Enrollment opened to Chevrolet dealerships earlier this year, and will expand to Buick, GMC, and Cadillac dealerships in January 2023, GM said.


Electrify America Level 2 chargers with Chevrolet Bolt and Nissan Leaf


"Participating dealers are eligible to receive up to 10 19.2-kw Level 2 charging stations," the automaker said. "GM then connects dealers with installation providers as needed to place the charging stations at key community locations."

While dealerships will install these chargers on their properties, GM has emphasized that are for the communities and areas with "high dwell time," not the dealerships. The goal is to expand charging access in "underserved rural and urban areas where EV charging is often limited or non-existent," the automaker said.

Unlike some other programs, this won't help ride-hailing drivers in urban areas, but it might help those who want an EV but don't live with predictable charging—they share a driveway, for instance, or live with 120-volt charging otherwise.


2022 GM Ultium Charger lineup for home charging

This is just one part of GM's charging plan. On the road-trip side, GM is planning 500 EV fast-charging stations with Pilot to form a coast-to-coast network. GM and another charging provider, EVgo, already announced a partnership to help ease urban charging—in that case, with fast-charging as well.

To guide drivers to these various new charging sites, GM plans to aggregate access to charging on unified brand apps, including its own chargers plus those of other networks.

Other efforts—both private and public—aim to fill in the blank spaces on the EV charging map. The $7.5 billion federal EV charging network will cover a lot of charging deserts, but it's effectively only a start. Convenience stores have made their own appeal for reaching rural America as well.

 

[ChasingCoral]

more details:

FLO to Supply GM's Dealer Community Charging Program and Help Automaker Expand Public Charging Locations in Communities Across North America

/PRNewswire/ - FLO, a leading North American electric vehicle (EV) charging network operator and smart charging solutions provider, has been selected as the...

www.prnewswire.com

FLO to Supply GM's Dealer Community Charging Program and Help Automaker Expand Public Charging Locations in Communities Across North America
NEWS PROVIDED BY
FLO
Dec 07, 2022, 08:10 ET
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This project is the largest deployment of public Level 2 chargers in North America
QUEBEC CITY and AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - FLO, a leading North American electric vehicle (EV) charging network operator and smart charging solutions provider, has been selected as the supplier for General Motors' Dealer Community Charging Program. This program will install up to 40,000 public Level 2 EV chargers in local communities across North America. This project is the single largest deployment of EV chargers across North America.

Image: courtesy of GM (CNW Group/FLO)

FLO will manufacture CoRe+ MAX™ chargers that will be provided to participating dealers. FLO's CoRe+ MAX charger delivers a maximum power output of 19.2 kW, charges up to 2.7x faster than a typical Level 2 charging station and delivers the most power available to a Level 2 charger.

These new charging stations will join the FLO network and GM's Ultium Charge 360 network and will be available to all EV drivers.

"GM is a long-term valued collaborator, and we are proud to support this extraordinary effort to grow access to public EV charging in thousands of local communities across North America," said Louis Tremblay, FLO's president and CEO. "Together, FLO, GM and GM dealerships will bring reliable charging to drivers from curbside to countryside."

Through the Dealer Community Charging Program, GM and its dealers are working together to expand public charging access in underserved rural and urban areas. Participating dealers are eligible to receive up to 10 Level 2 charging stations and GM will connect dealers with installation providers as needed. The charging stations will then be installed in key public locations including workplaces, multi-unit dwellings, event venues, colleges and universities. The first chargers were recently installed in Wisconsin and Michigan at a park, library, sports complex and wellness center.

"With FLO's collaboration and the support of our dealer community, we'll significantly expand reliable and convenient infrastructure across the U.S. and Canada and manifest our all-electric future," said Hoss Hassani, vice president of GM EV Ecosystem.

These EV chargers will be built in North America, primarily at FLO's brand-new assembly facility and testing lab in Auburn Hills with support from FLO's Shawinigan, QC facilities.
Located just outside of Detroit, the new facility will help FLO bring more than 250,000 EV chargers to American drivers and create 730 direct, indirect and induced jobs by 2028.

"Since its founding, FLO has been committed to delivering a charging experience done right – fast, reliable and convenient," Tremblay said. "FLO's dependable and wide network means drivers can charge in their communities, at their jobs, on the road and during their travels. FLO chargers can be trusted when EV drivers need them the most."

About FLO
FLO is a leading North American electric vehicle (EV) charging network operator and a smart charging solutions provider. We fight climate change by accelerating EV adoption through a vertically integrated business model and by delivering EV drivers the most dependable charging experience from curbside to countryside. Every month, we enable more than 1 million charging events thanks to over 75,000 fast and level 2 EV charging stations deployed at public, private and residential locations. FLO operates its network across North America and our high-quality charging stations are assembled with care in Michigan and Quebec. To learn more about what "EV charging done right™" means to us, visit flo.com.

SOURCE FLO

 

[StephenD]

What a joke!

 

[Voltz]

What a joke!

Why?

 

[StephenD]

Why?

Level 2 charging, like most have at home. Slow! I feel this is a facesaving attempt because Ford dealers are putting in DC fast chargers.

 

[Voltz]

Level 2 charging, like most have at home. Slow! I feel this is a facesaving attempt because Ford dealers are putting in DC fast chargers.

The EVSEs are not being installed at dealers. The headline and body of the article tell the intent of the program, 20 kW public charging widely available in 'undercharged areas' will be a lifesaver to the average 65-80 kWh EV battery.

GM has allegedly committed $750 million towards fast charging in conjunction with Pilot/Flying J nationwide.

 

[StephenD]

Just put in DC Fast. They have to get permits and all that stuff anyway. Just seems like throwing away money to me. Pay a little more upfront to make them DC fast and do it right! Eventually they will probably be converted to DC fast anyway. Sure, something is better than nothing, but this will feed the fire of the anti-electric folks who argue "it takes too long to charge!"

 

[ChasingCoral]

DCFC is the most expensive way to charge an EV. Most people in apartments can’t afford to buy a house with a garage to charge an EV. Providing free or inexpensive L2 so apartment dwellers can charge overnight is a very good way to advance EV use within lower economic groups.

 

[btreece]

Just put in DC Fast. They have to get permits and all that stuff anyway. Just seems like throwing away money to me. Pay a little more upfront to make them DC fast and do it right! Eventually they will probably be converted to DC fast anyway. Sure, something is better than nothing, but this will feed the fire of the anti-electric folks who argue "it takes too long to charge!"

Separate infrastructure and greater expense for the DCFC. Level 2 can use existing electric capabilities. As someone who lives in a rural WI area I am happy to see this. It gives the opportunity to add some range when exploring a few hundred miles from home.