General Motors is Building a Coast-to-Coast DC Fast EV Charging Network in the U.S. in a New Partnership with Travel Center Operator Pilot Company

author: FutureCar Staff    

One of the barriers to widespread electric vehicle adoption is the lack of convenient charging infrastructure. For Tesla owners, this is not a problem since drivers have access to the automaker's vast Supercharger network in the U.S. that continues to expand. Other automakers, including General Motors, are relying on EV charging partnerships with leading charging providers, including EVgo and Electrify America.

Now General Motors has announced a new partnership with Pilot Company, a leading operator of gas stations and truck stops in the U.S. The two companies are collaborating on a national DC fast charging network that will be installed, operated and maintained by EVgo through its eXtend program, which installs and manages the chargers for its customers.

Pilot Company operates more than 800 retail and fueling locations in North America and Canada across 44 states and 6 Canadian provinces. The company's network also features more than 790 restaurants.

The network of 2,000 EV charging stalls will be co-branded "Pilot Flying J '' and "Ultium Charge 360" and managed and operated by EVgo. The chargers will be open to drivers of all EV brands at up to 500 Pilot and Flying J travel centers. 

GM and its partners are targeting the installation of charging stalls at 50-mile intervals across the U.S. GM says the EV charging collaboration is expected to enhance "America's EV driving experience".

"EVgo, GM and Pilot Company share a commitment to building an electric fueling network that increases access and makes the shift to electrification as frictionless as possible for all. We look forward to this collaboration and ensuring the EVgo network provides nationwide coverage, including critical corridors for road trips," said Cathy Zoi, CEO at EVgo. 

The partnership with Pilot Company is part of GM's $750 million investment in EV charging infrastructure as it transitions to becoming an electric-only automaker by 2035. 

Partnering with Pilot Company is ideal for GM, since its gas stations and truck stops are conveniently located alongside major U.S. highways and connect busy East and West Coast travel routes, urban and rural communities and metropolitan areas. The locations of the EV chargers will allow GM EV drivers to travel almost anywhere in the U.S. without running out of juice. 

"We are committed to an all-electric, zero-emissions future, and ensuring that the right charging infrastructure is in place is a key piece of the puzzle," said Mary Barra, GM Chair and Chief Executive Officer. "With travel centers across North America, Pilot Company is an ideal collaborator to reach a broad audience of EV drivers."

Pilot Company recently announced its "New Horizons" initiative, which includes a $1 billion investment to fully upgrade its travel centers with more premium amenities and offerings that aren't typically available at current EV charging locations. 

Guests will have access to free Wi-Fi at most locations, expanded seating and lounge areas, updated and modernized restrooms, on-site restaurants including Pilot's signature fresh hot and cold deli, premium coffee, and shopping for travel essentials while their vehicles are charging. 

Pilot and Flying J travel centers are open 24/7, ensuring that staff are always on site to provide services to guests.

The Pilot and Flying J travel centers will feature many fast charging stalls provided by EVgo, including high power fast chargers capable of offering up to 350 kW that can charge some EVs in about 15 minutes. 

Many of these EV charging sites will feature canopies to help protect customers from the elements while charging, as well as pull-through capability allowing convenient charging for electric pickup trucks and SUVs towing trailers.

"Our travel centers are well-equipped to accommodate EV charging with 24/7 amenities and convenient proximity to major roadways across the country. We look forward to collaborating with GM and the U.S. Department of Transportation to make convenient coast-to-coast EV travel a reality through our national network of travel centers."

As part of the partnership with Pilot Company, GM customers will receive added benefits, such as exclusive reservations, discounts on charging, a streamlined charging process through Plug and Charge and integration into GM's vehicle companion smartphone apps. GM EVs will also display real-time charger availability route planning to drive to the nearest one. 

EVgo, which is also working with GM to add more than 3,250 fast chargers in American cities and suburbs by the end of 2025. As one of the leading EV charging providers in the U.S. GM selected EVgo as a strategic collaborator due to its expertise in building, operating and maintaining nationwide DC fast charging infrastructure.

EVgo's charging network serves over 60 metropolitan areas across more than 30 states. The company has approximately 375,000 customer accounts.  

This new EV charging partnership is just the beginning. GM and Pilot Company will continue working with key stakeholders to use new and existing public-private programs to accelerate the development of more public EV charging infrastructure as the automaker adds more fully-electric vehicles to its lineup.

Over the past several years, EVgo has been working closely with the U.S. Department of Energy, the California Public Utilities Commission and the California Energy Commission to promote the adoption of EVs.

GM's $750 million investment in EV charging infrastructure also includes installing up to 40,000 chargers in local dealer communities through GM's Dealer Community Charging Program, which is focused on underserved rural and urban areas that currently lack convenient charging options.

FutureCar Staff