Tesla has one of the best-known electric vehicle charging networks in the United States, but it could soon get some competition from an unlikely source.
According to CNN, General Motors and construction giant Bechtel will partner to build “thousands of electric vehicle fast-charging stations across the United States.” Details about the network are limited, but the report says GM and Bechtel will form a new company which will be tasked with building the network.
GM will reportedly use their data and knowledge of electric vehicles to determine the best locations for the chargers. Bechtel, on the other hand, will be responsible for the “engineering, building and permitting for the stations.”
There’s no word on where these stations will be located, but executives told CNN they wouldn’t big limited to areas near the highway. In particular, GM’s vice president of electric vehicle infrastructure and charging, Mike Ableson, said “The way we think about it, we want to put chargers where they’re going to have the greatest influence on EV adoption wherever that may be. I believe a lot of those are actually going to be in urban areas.”
Ableson went on to say the automaker will use OnStar data to look to see where people typically park and spend the most time. As he explained, “Our hypothesis around fast charging is that people charge where their cars [are] already spending time, right?” This seems to suggest chargers could be located in areas where people congregate such as shopping malls and workplaces.
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While GM and Bechtel are the brains behind the operation, other companies are reportedly being invited to invest in the venture. Neither would comment on the discussions, but it’s likely the talks could include other automakers with plans to launch electric vehicles.
