Seven of the world’s largest automakers said Wednesday that they’re working together to build a new nationwide network of 30,000 electric vehicle charging stations, an effort to stoke already growing consumer demand for EVs.
BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes and Stellantis said the first batch of their “high-powered charging” stations will be available next summer. EV owners have long complained about a shortage of places to charge their vehicle. The automakers said they hope the stations will “make zero-emission driving even more attractive for millions of customers.”
The charging system would be public and open to all electric vehicle owners and have connectors for both Tesla’s North American Charging Standard plugs as well as the Combined Charging System plugs used by other automakers.
Motorists remain concerned about finding a charging station, while also having question about electric cars’ range and how long it takes to reach full power, auto industry experts have told CBS MoneyWatch.