GM partners with Pilot Company to enable long-distance electric travel across US

MANILA: GM and Pilot Company are joining forces on a national DC fast-charging network that will be installed, run, and maintained by EVgo through its eXtend offering in order to speed up the adoption of EVs, expand access to charging, and help in enabling long-distance electric travel for people and vehicles across the US. This initiative serves as an example of how public and private organizations can work together to develop a nation's charging infrastructure, especially along the highways that connect urban and rural areas.

EVgo eXtend will power this network of 2,000 charging points, which will be co-branded “Pilot Flying J” and “Ultium Charge 360” and accessible to all EV brands at up to 500 Pilot and Flying J travel centers. GM customers will enjoy special perks such as exclusive reservations, reduced charging costs, a quicker charging process through Plug and Charge, and integration into GM's vehicle brand apps that offer real-time charger availability and assistance with route planning. This partnership is anticipated to improve the EV driving experience in America.

There will be several fast charging stalls offered by EVgo at the Pilot and Flying J travel centers, including high-power fast chargers with a 350kW output. With  its expertise in developing, running, and maintaining DC fast charging infrastructure, EVgo — which is also collaborating with GM to install more than 3,250 fast chargers in American cities and suburbs by the end of 2025  — was selected as a strategic partner. Many of these sites will have canopies to protect users from the weather while they charge, as well as pull-through capability to make it easy for electric pickup trucks and SUVs pulling trailers to charge.

In a statement, GM Chair and Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra said, “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. With travel centers across North America, Pilot Company is an ideal collaborator to reach a broad audience of EV drivers.”

“GM and Pilot Company designed this program to combine private investments alongside intended government grant and utility programs to help reduce range anxiety and significantly close the gap in long-distance EV charger demand,” Pilot Company Chief Executive Officer Shameek Konar stated. “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 US Department of Transportation to make convenient coast-to-coast EV travel a reality through our national network of travel centers.”

According to independent studies, a major obstacle to the mass adoption of EVs is the lack of access to highway charging, especially in underdeveloped urban and rural areas.

“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. Through EVgo eXtend, we are demonstrating yet another innovative pathway to help America electrify — and showcasing why EVgo’s technology and industry leadership make us the partner of choice to site hosts, automakers and drivers alike as we work together to deliver a cleaner future of transportation,” EVgo Chief Executive Officer Cathy Zoi said.

The objective of this partnership is to install charging points at 50-mile intervals all over the US. This development represents another step in GM's nearly $750 million investment in EV charging infrastructure.

This project also expands upon Pilot Company's recently launched “New Horizons” program, which targets to invest $1 billion to completely revamp its travel centers with more upscale amenities and offerings not usually found at local EV charging stations. Customers will have access to larger seating and lounge areas, modernized restrooms, free Wi-Fi at most sites, Pilot's signature fresh hot and cold deli on-site restaurants, premium coffee, and shopping for travel essentials and souvenirs while their vehicles are charging. Because Pilot and Flying J travel centers are open round-the-clock, staff members are always on hand to give customers consistently high-quality service.

Beyond this program, GM and Pilot Company will keep collaborating with key stakeholders to use new and ongoing public-private programs to accelerate the construction of more public EV charging infrastructure.

Photos from General Motors

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