Major automakers plan to 'leverage public and private funds' to install electric vehicle charging network around North America



Seven car manufacturing giants are planning a joint effort to bolster electric vehicle charging infrastructure by installing a network of charging locations around North America.

BMW Group, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz Group, and Stellantis NV are the companies involved in the plan. A press release notes that the effort will "leverage public and private funds."

"The joint venture will include the development of a new, high-powered charging network with at least 30,000 chargers to make zero-emission driving even more attractive for millions of customers," the press release states. "With the generational investments in public charging being implemented on the Federal and State level, the joint venture will leverage public and private funds to accelerate the installation of high-powered charging for customers."

The plan is for the charging network to run off of renewable energy. It is anticipated that the first charging locations will open next summer.

"The first stations are expected to open in the United States in the summer of 2024 and in Canada at a later stage," the press release notes. "In line with the sustainability strategies of all seven automakers, the joint venture intends to power the charging network solely by renewable energy."

While traditional cars can quickly fill up at gas stations, electric vehicle charging is a much slower process. For instance, while filling up a typical sedan's gas tank may take just a couple of minutes, Tesla, a popular electric vehicle manufacturer, says that Superchargers can provide up to 200 miles of range in 15 minutes.

"The fight against climate change is the greatest challenge of our time. What we need now is speed – across political, social and corporate boundaries," Mercedes-Benz Group CEO Ola Källenius, said, according to the press release. "To accelerate the shift to electric vehicles, we're in favor of anything that makes life easier for our customers. Charging is an inseparable part of the EV-experience, and this network will be another step to make it as convenient as possible."

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Left-wing lawmakers say the absence of a common standard for electronics chargers causes 'economic and environmental harm' — and they want the government to step in



In a letter last month to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, three left-wing lawmakers took issue with the lack of uniformity among the chargers used to power electronic gadgets, and urged the U.S. government to tackle the issue.

"We write regarding the economic and environmental harm inflicted by the consumer electronics industry’s failure to establish uniform charging accessory standards — a shortcoming that requires consumers to frequently change their charging accessories. This planned obsolescence is expensive and frustrating for consumers, and drives the proliferation of electronic waste (ewaste)," Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said in the letter.

The European Union plans to mandate USB Type-C as the required charging port for various electronic devices. The liberal senators wrote, "we urge you to follow the EU’s lead by developing a comprehensive strategy to address unnecessary consumer costs, mitigate e-waste, and restore sanity and certainty to the process of purchasing new electronics."

"We urge you to coordinate with offices and agencies across the Department of Commerce to develop a comprehensive plan that will protect both consumers and the environment by addressing the lack of a common U.S. charging standard," they wrote.

The legislators' letter focusing on the topic of chargers came even as Americans continued to face pressing economic burdens amid soaring inflation and high gas prices.

Warren tweeted on Thursday, "Consumers shouldn’t have to keep buying new chargers all the time for different devices. We can clear things up with uniform standards—for less expense, less hassle, and less waste."

While many people supported the idea, others were not on board with the prospect of such government meddling.

"Government-standardized technology to spare us from innovation? Elizabeth Warren has apparently discovered the fountain of bad ideas," Reason contributing editor J.D. Tuccille tweeted.

"No one should ever trust the government for advice on reducing waste," conservative radio host Dana Loesch tweeted.

"It's in the Constitution: The Congress shall have Power to establish a uniform Rule on the subject of mobile device Chargers," former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash sarcastically tweeted. "This will not improve everybody’s life; it will stifle innovation and harm consumers. In any case, constitutionality isn’t based on whether someone—or even everyone—likes the law," he noted in another tweet.

\u201cIt\u2019s in the Constitution:\n\nThe Congress shall have Power to establish a uniform Rule on the subject of mobile device Chargers.\u201d
— Justin Amash (@Justin Amash) 1657222113