Pilot Travel Centers, GM, and EVgo Unveil GM-EV Fast Charging Stations

Dec 05, 2023 10:17 PM EST

Plugged Electric Car Getting Charged — (Photo : PEXELS/Cindy Shebley)

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more popular thanks to benefits from the government and car companies like GM. This is proof of how important that power stations are accessible. Addressing this need, General Motors forged a strategic alliance with Pilot Travel Centers and EVgo to establish EV Fast Charging Stations at Pilot Flying J rest stops.

Accessible EV Fast Charging Station Opens

As car manufacturers like GM continue to roll out electric vehicles (EVs) and governments provide incentives, the availability of accessible charging stations remains a key concern for potential EV buyers. The first of these convenient charging places is now up and running, which is a big step toward making EV infrastructure more accessible.

In a bid to address this issue, General Motors joined forces with Pilot Travel Centers and EVgo to establish EV Fast Charging Stations at Pilot Flying J rest stops. The goal of this partnership is to set up to 500 charging stations across the country. Edgadget provided details about this development in the world of EVs.

According to Green Car report, these state-of-the-art charging stations have been set up at initial locations across 13 states, featuring multiple stalls at each site, all capable of delivering up to 350 kW of charging power. Moreover, they are different because they were carefully planned to include canopies, pull-through stalls that make towing easier.

They also include easy access to amenities like bathrooms, restaurants, and Wi-Fi. All of these features are there to make sure that charging is comfortable. The joint provider, which goes by the names "Pilot Flying J" and "Ultium Charge 360," has big plans to grow.

Their ultimate goal is to deploy up to 2,000 fast-charging stalls at approximately 500 Pilot and Flying J travel centers throughout the United States. By the end of 2023, they aim to establish 25 such locations, with an even more substantial presence of around 200 locations anticipated by the end of 2024.

This planned rollout is focused on "highly traveled corridors" that are strategically placed. GM is actively seeking feedback from its network of dealerships on how to make these areas more accessible. Plug and Charge technology works with this EV charge network, which is one of its best features.

Furthermore, this new feature makes charging easier by letting many drivers of compatible EVs plug in and charge without having to enter their payment information separately. The establishment of this network owes its thanks in part to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allocated a substantial .5 billion toward the development of a federal EV charging network.

While the initial concept was funded by the collaborating companies, they have leveraged grant and utility programs to realize this ambitious project. Interestingly, this GM-Pilot network is just one of many automaker-funded networks that are currently being built.

Digital Experience for Everyone

The EV Fast Charging Stations network seamlessly integrates a digital user experience, allowing travelers seeking a charge to effortlessly pinpoint available charging stations.

NGT News reported that, this user-friendly feature can be reached through a number of different platforms, such as the GM car brand apps, the Pilot myRewards Plus app, the EVgo app, PlugShare, and other customized apps made just for drivers of electric vehicles.

In anticipation of spring 2024, GM and Pilot have exciting plans to introduce exclusive benefits for GM drivers, enabling them to reserve chargers and access attractive discounts on charging services. Furthermore, all electric vehicle travelers stand to benefit from ongoing savings at Pilot and Flying J locations, with regular promotions on food, beverages, and merchandise readily accessible through the myRewards Plus app.