GM has announced a new partnership with Pilot Company, owners of the Pilot and Flying J brands, to set up a new national DC fast charging network that will be installed, operated and maintained by the automaker’s existing charging partner EVgo. The network of 2,000 charging stalls will be co-branded “Pilot Flying J” and “Ultium Charge 360,” and will be installed at up to 500 Pilot and Flying J travel centers nationwide.
Participating Pilot and Flying J travel centers will feature numerous EVgo charging stalls, including 350 kW DC fast charging plugs. The companies are targeting the installation of charging stalls at 50-mile intervals across the U.S., mainly dotted along highways. The charging network will also be set up with input from the U.S. Department of Transportation. This partnership builds on GM’s existing alliance with EVgo, which will see it set up 3,250 fast charging stalls in various American cities and suburbs by the end of 2025.
With an existing network of travel centers, GM CEO Mary Barra said Pilot Company is an “ideal collaborator to reach a broad audience of EV drivers.”
“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,” Barra said.
Shameek Konar, Pilot Company Chief Executive Officer, said the company’s travel centers, which offer 24/7 amenities, make are well-suited to operate EV charging stations.
The Ultium Charge 360 branding on the charging stations is a reference to the automaker’s new in-vehicle charging application. Through Ultium Charge 360, drivers of GM electric vehicles will be able to locate nearby charging stations, view plug availability and plan their route, among more. The app can also make it easier to pay for charging sessions when using stalls operated by a variety of companies including EVgo, ChargePoint or Blink, among others.
In addition to the charging network program, GM and Pilot company also said this week that they would “continue working with key stakeholders to use new and existing public-private programs to accelerate the development of more public EV charging infrastructure,” in the coming years.
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Comments
This is great news; hopefully they can fill in the gaps where Electrify America is sparse
Good, I hope it’s a helluva lot more reliable than Electrify America is. It’s hard to believe how much of a disaster EA is.
Now this is what I like to hear. Not sure why only Some Stalls will be 350kW and NOT all of them.
350kW in two to three years time will be obsolete as well. Chinese Automakers are already working to install 500kW Stalls by 2023. But nonetheless this is a Step in the right direction. This is where you need DC Superchargers while on a road-trip….along the major Highways and Turnpike.
2000 stalls versus how many hundreds of thousands of pumps?
Millions of people will have charging capability at their home, often using solar panels to handle the charging requirements.
It seems gas pumps are way behind. Plus, essentially impossible for a homeowner to use Mother Nature to create gas to fill up their iCE for nothing.
Regardless, it’s great to see Pilot is working to stay relevant as auto propulsion changes over the coming decade
How are people that live in apartments/condos or park on the street going to charge their vehicles? Not everyone lives in the suburbs with an attached 2 car garage with solar panels
Are you saying the transition needs to happen immediately? No more I E production going forward?
This is all going to take time and apartment dwellers will get options.
These are the urban commuters that need EV’s the most! We suburban/country dwellers with attached 2-car garages aren’t giving up our ICE’s anytime soon!
Just dangle an extension cord out the window and down to your car! LOL, right?
More people than you would think actually do this – as for a instance, my Nephew when he visits his girlfriend – the extension cord gets plugged in the bathroom
Bill Howland:
Hopefully the electrical receptacle in the bathroom has a GFCI. This whole recharge madness will be interesting to watch with the masses doing charging workarounds, faulty cords, wet environments, snowy environments, etc.
I notice that a lot of EV charging stations such as Tesla’s do not have windshield and mirror washing fluids and squeegees for safely cleaning of windshields, headlights and mirrors. Also no trash receptacles. No tire air equipment. And most importantly canopys for shielding the driver’s from rain, snow, and intense hot desert sun.
The current network of charging stations has a way to go. I’ll take a Maverick Convenience store – fuel stop in my IC vehicles any day.
He uses the ‘Charging Cord’ from my old 2011 volt; all such charging cords have ground fault testing built-in.
But in this case there was a ground-fault receptacle in the bathroom so I told him to ‘baggie’ the end of the extension cord with the ‘charging cord’ plug so that rain didn’t false trip it.
As far as Fast Charging Stations – I’ve never seen one as of yet that has the conveniences a modern service station has..
That is what gets me: Modern Gasoline Dispenser facilities (gas stations) make it absolutely as effortless as possible for a driver to refuel – and do anything else that might make the customer want to part with more of their money…
Whereas the fast charger stations are so horrible that they are broke half the time… And this is when there are relatively few people using them.
They are slowly beginning to realize they need to clean up their acts – but there’s plenty of room for future improvement.
Bill Howland:
You can fuel your vehicle, fuel your stomach, take a discharge (restrooms) in one easy stop. Yes, EV recharge stations have a way to go. At 70 years young, with prostate issues, the discharge facilities are most important for me. How about a gas station hot dog anyone? LOL
Uh – yeah…. I hope Luft lets me make this comment…. They haven’t let me comment much lately..
Only problem I’ve had with convenience stores lately is when a Self-Important ‘manager’ (probably pay him 25 cents an hour more than the ‘help’) threw me out of a Panera’s Bread since I had the audacity to put on a collared shirt while on the outskirts of the parking lot where I parked my bicycle.
Too many constipated Big-Shot Gas Bags in my town.
LOL, “for nothing “? Are those solar panels and battery walls free?
Ed,
The EV lovers also seem to forget that solar panels are useless as t__s on a rain barrel at night when EV vehicle battery charging is to occur. As for day charging, the number of panels dedicated to EV battery charging is massive. That add a second car and maybe even a third for the kids. I can see it now. The teenager comes home at night when Dads asleep and disconnects the old man’s car from the grid-powered charger, to charge his own car. The old man gets up in the morning to find his car with a dead battery, so he can’t go to work.
We’ll eventually see many EVs but ICE-powered vehicles will be around for many years.
Montana Bob
Agreed!
Well, there used to be none. That’s how things work. You build the infrastructure.
I’m curious to know one of the most important factors, the cost to use the charging station.
How long will people have to wait?
Do your research and you will find out. Some are free.
All that info is on the internet. Don’t be lazy do your own research.
This is a drop in the ocean! What about in Texas where this week they have been asking people not the charge between 2:00 pm and 8:00pm? Not a good start for our “all EV future”!
They say “everything is big in Texas” including mistakes and corruption.
I bet AC units are burning through far more KW of electrons than electric cars. And most EV owners charge overnight in their garages. Even the Bolt, the cheapest EV on sale in America, is perfectly capable of only charging at predefined times and having that be set as a routine that doesn’t have to be immediately addressed. Come home, plug it in, and it will start charging at 11pm, for example. On top of that, it will only need as much electricity as it used that day. Few EVs are charging from empty to 80% every night.
does anyone realize that a ‘fast charge’ type 3 actually damages the battery…..please refer to the documentation
Most people with a garage or home to charge will mostly charge overnight. Fast charging is mainly for long road trips. The current Bolt is not exactly a road tripping powerhouse, with 50 KW DC ‘fast’ charging. However, the Lyric can fast charge at 190 KW and the Blazer will probably be the same. That will shorten charging stops from 30-60 minute affairs to 10-30 minute stops.
I’m assuming this will be the most common J1772 plug?
J1772 so called ‘Type – 1’ (single-phase). Not the so called Mennekes (Type 2) 3-phase things common in Europe.
Sometimes called CCS 1 versus CCS 2. AS opposed to Chademo or Tesla.
As far as damaging the battery GMC1TON – People always complains GM fast charges their batteries much too slowly…
Guess they can’t please anyone on that subject. Since the battery has a 8 year/100,000 mile warranty, i would not lose too much sleep over it.
In my area, local GM dealers have no information as to the wiring necessary for level 2 charging in my garage at home. Won’t be buying an EV until my garage is prewired.
Its called an electrician.
Toolmaker:
IN purchasing the Lyriq – the either / or options are this:
take a free charging 24 month EVGO credit card.
or
Have GM’s contractor take $1,500 off the price of wiring your garage…. Straight-forward jobs will be totally paid for and that is why almost everyone will take this second offering.
But that brings up another question – will the EVGO credit cards that are being given out with the bolts and lyriqs work at pilots and flying j’s? Or is that just too much for Mutli Billion Dollar Barra to rememeber to integrate?
I watched a video. It seemed straightforward. However, a job is rarely easy until you’ve done it several times. I called an electrician.
Yeah, the first time you put in a car charger, dryer outlet, range out, RV outlet, etc, its best to have a professional friend look over your shoulder…. Not sure the videos cover absolutely every little detail – and then of course, you home may be older or in some way different from the guys doing the video and it may be a source of confusion for the uninitiated.
Bill Howland:
Good advice you render. I know you are a Sparky. My son is too.
Always read manufacturers installation and use sheet. Amazing that most simple electrical receptacles are incorrectly installed. Per most electrical outlet makers instruction, the third ground prong is to be installed facing on top versus the bottom.
This is to prevent electrical drama if someone should strangely place a metallic object between the two plug prongs and the receptacle in the loose gap between the receptacle and plug.
As the EV trend increases we will see lots of strange electrical accidents.
David Alan Murray:
Well I think the general situation is Borderline Ghastly…..
Many of those Nema 14-50 Receptacles being installed (this stove/range/RV camper – what Qmerit is installing for GM – and what the 110/220 cords almost everyone is including with the larger EVs these days) are in my humble opinion FIRE STARTERS.
The Leviton-Branded Crap that places like The Home Depot sells is so horrible that the wire attachment screws strip with only moderate tightening, and get super hot for a 32 ampere load on a supposedly 50 ampere rated outlet… My friend in Syracuse fortunately had an out door (STEEL COVERED) unit flame and melt under such a load…
I Bought $8 Hubbell 14-50s which run very cool, (to replace the melted crap) and both the Syracuse friend and myself are having no further trouble at the cord’s rated 32 ampere loading.
But I’m sure, what with the popularity of the Big Box store – that they will be no shortage of Garage Fires.. AS I say, I get a contractor’s discount for the $8 receptacles…. I suppose most people pay $20-$30.
I always install 14-50s of ANY brand on a metal box and THEN put a metal extension box to build everying out another 1 1/2″ from combustibles.
Bill Howland:
You are spot on with your comment on Hubbell products. I’m a huge fan of Crouse Hinds, Allen-Bradley, Siemens, ABB and Hubbell electrical hardware. It’s reliable quality industrial grade versus Home Depot consumer grade.
You pay a premium for it, but you can sleep nights. Your insurance company will thank you too.
When I worked for Harnischfeger in Milwaukee we used ABB for the electrical control cabinets on the electric mining shovels. Very reliable and no fires or arc blasts if cabinet maintenance and housekeeping is properly maintained. A shop vac works wonders. Arc blasts as you know are caused by poor electrical housekeeping – dusts, cobwebs, loose fasteners, vibration, weather, etc.
We are now turning into a monumental new era with electric vehicles. GM is going all in. Am really surprised that the GM parts department has not gone into a collaboration with Hubbell, Allen-Bradley, Cooper Crouse Hinds, or Siemens on charging hardware packages for home and commercial applications.
GM’s auto parts business is going to take a huge hit with electric vehicles.
There will be a huge learning curve by EV users and their families.
EV users should periodically take a shop vac to accessible electrical areas.
It’s fun watching this EV thing unfold.
Curious, if it isn’t too personal what years did you work at Harnischfeger?
exanguinate:
No problem: Phoenix (Mesa) Arizona facility – 1988 through 1992. Worked for Ed Sullivan, RIP and Al Schmalzer, RIP. I was the parts and service sales representative for electric rope shovels in the Southwest and Mexico. I helped create MinePro. P&H was a stellar organization. Quality and Service ruled. Now owned by Komatsu. Komatsu saw the value and bought it. Still the finest electric mining shovels in the world. King of the Hill with their 2800 and 4100 models.
David
Haven’t heard the Harnischfeger name in a long time. My Grandfather and a great uncle worked at the Milwaukee plant, way before your time.
Thanks for the response;
exanguinate
My pleasure. The Harnischfeger National Avenue complex is being demolished for urban redevelopment. Komatsu has built a new shovel plant along the river. Also moved the offices to the new plant. Changing times. At least Komatsu kept the business in Milwaukee.
Caterpillar moved their electric shovel and dragline group out of South Milwaukee to Tucson, Arizona. Fabricating their electric rope shovels and draglines with a contractor ship yard in South Korea.
D-A-M –
Well, the Leviton Junk I’m talking about is *NOT* consumer grade….
Leviton pull chain lights such as you might have in the basement or a closet last exactly 3 weeks before the switch breaks in the OFF position, meaning that you cannot even use it as a plain old light socket… Took the things back 3 times and each one lasted 2-3 weeks before failure… If you look at the HD website – the socket isn’t even centered with the rest of the fixture – which shows the amount of attention to detail these things have..
The worst electrical products I can think of (besides the early Chinese extension cord junk with #22 AWG wire – and it was lousy construction even if #22 was big enough for the load) – were the
RED Handle Federal Pacific Circuit Breakers (the older brown stuff was fine). – which would rarely trip under fault conditions. – The company went bankrupt..
Of course, EVEN WORSE; THEN the subsequent company CHALLENGER had 200 amp panels which would melt down (literally) with a continuous 80 ampere load.
The “WORLD’S FINEST !!!” (plastered over the sides of the box that it comes in ) QO panels from about 1956 from Square D used to be good, but anything within the past 40 years is somewhat suspect…. I had a 100 amp panel have the weld in its Neutral Bar MELT into 2 pieces when 30 amperes of current was going through it.
Siemens stuff is both good and bad …. The worst are their Aluminum Bussed Loadcenters.
Eaton BR (the old Westinghouse-Bryant) panels nowadays have sheet metal so thin that if you don’t have enough breakers in the panel you can push the metal cover into the Live Bussing – which to me is more than interesting that the 2022 NEC requires plastic tabs covering unused positions. Heaven forbid there be a requirement for a bit more metal in the box.
Leviton gets away with ‘fire starter’ 220 volt receptacles – because the typical usage of them for an electric stove does not have 4 burners on high and the oven at 550 degrees for hours and hours.
Square – D does the same thing – a 225 amp 3 phase panel that they think will be heavily loaded will have much more substantial construction than a ‘consumer’ plastic 200 amp single phase panel – that will certainly be put to the test with several electric cars charging all night.
Bill Howland:
Thanks for your analysis and comments on the electric hardware. I do agree that the electrical hardware made pre CAD and cost analysis of materials to six decimal places was much superior to today’s offerings.
One thing a large electrical contractor taught me is that you want to shut down your panel once a year and tighten the connections as the mini vibrations in the current flow loosen the connections causing the current to reach the contact creating additional flows and more electrical charge costs.
Also a good time to shop vac the panel. But for God’s sake to the general public shut the main breaker to the panel(s) OFF ! Always use a tester before touching.
As the masses move into EV’s like they did with seat belt useage it will be interesting to see the trends in home electrical events.
When we purchased our Bolt EUV last summer our Chevy dealer was quick to get things moving on having our garage outlet installed. I was asked to provide some information, online. The next week we were contacted by an area electrician to schedule the installation. A very efficient young man arrived as scheduled and had the job done in an hour.
We were charging from the 240 volt outlet in our garage within two weeks of our car purchase, with GM having paid entirely for the installation.
I’m lucky. I own a home and will install a L2 charger to charge my Lyriq when it arrives in 2023. Long trips will be done with my Audi Q5 TDI. From my readings it is not so much about availability as it is about “working” availability. Rather than expand I think money needs to focus on fixing handshake and maintenance issues in the existing system locations. Expansion of bad designs and software will not solve the rest of world charging issues versus Tesla.
Wow! Pilot Co. owned by Berkshire Hathaway, aka, Warren Buffet. Huge block of GM stock owned by Berkshire Hathaway, aka, Warren Buffet. Mary and Warren are best buds. Mary, Warren and Brandon are best buds, along with Billy Gates.
See what is happening here? These power players and power influences are steering the huge American ship away from IC propell to EV propell to try to target a solution to the eons old climate change constant. Meanwhile the rest of the world is hell bent on fossil fuels.
Thanks for telling us dummys who owns that crap station. The only one near us floods out every time it rains. Only jacked up trucks can get to it and any electric car that tries will be shorted out. I guess it doesn’t matter. I only know of five EVs in the area. Everybody is laughing at them.
That moronic dumbbell Barra and many others keep referring to ev’s as being zero emission. They are anything but. 60% of power in the US is still generated by oil and coal fired plants. And there’s a ton of emissions produced in mining lithium which is needed to manufacture an ev’s battery
EVGo is reknown for terrible uptime, repairs, and high prices. I hope GM can kick them into a different level of service and support.
Its true that EVs are not ‘zero emission’ , and for that matter, I’m a big fan of MORE CO2 – not less. I have no problem with a properly operated coal power plant – as the only big residuals are Plant food, and water; and minor residuals are Mercury (which is 90% recouped) and Drywall – Drywall is a panel made of calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum board).
Modern batteries are improving and will continue to improve in the future – for instance GM’s Ultium battery uses 1/3 the Cobalt traditionally used – and supposedly the next series of Ultium batteries will allow twice as much charge – permitting 500-600 mile ranges on the large vehicles. This might be 10 – 20 years in the future but the point is – the Glass is Half – Full , and its unnecessarily pessimistic to view it as half empty.
As far as Coal mined world wide – what with all of Europe’s “Teaching Russia a Lesson !!!” is as phony as the Global Warming Hoax.
More Coal was mined in 2021 than ever in HISTORY, and 2022 will set a NEW RECORD beyond even last years…
Coal is basically banned in NY State (too bad – I was planning on all my electrics being powered by the Coal fired power plant down the street – now of course shut-down by the State), but Europe has shot themselves in their collective feet to such an extent that ANYTHING COAL powered they are trying desperately to take out of mothballs before this upcoming winter.
Agriculture Flourishes when there is more CO2… Less CO2 means bigger deserts and less food.
But ICE vehicles (and stationary engines) will probably be here for the next 100 years anyway since they are SO GOOD at what they do. As refineries are necessary for any modern society, gasoline will always be a by-product of the cracking tower whether it is wanted or not…. Better to burn the gas in a clean burning car engine.
EDitor: Why can’t I post any comments?