GM set to expand charging network

General Motors says it is undertaking a program to install up to 40,000 “Level 2” electric vehicle (EV) chargers in the United States and Canada. “GM and its dealers will work together to expand access to charging in local communities including in underserved, rural and urban areas where EV charging access is often limited,” states the automaker.

Although charging technology is evolving, earlier this decade the Washington-based International Copper Association said EV chargers can contain from 1.5 to 17.5 pounds of copper each, depending on the size and wattage. If the GM effort reaches its target, it thus could entail the consumption of 60,000 pounds (30 tons) or more of copper.

The expansion of EV market share, charging station locations and the infrastructure to serve them has been cited by researchers such as those at BloombergNEF as one of the reasons copper may be in short supply in the years ahead.

GM says the initiative, starting immediately, is part of its recently announced commitment to invest nearly $750 million to expand home, workplace and public charging infrastructure through its Ultium Charge 360 ecosystem.

In addition to its dealerships, GM says it will work with its dealers to deploy charging stations at workplaces, multi-unit dwellings, sports and entertainment venues and colleges and universities, among other sites. “These charging stations will be available to all EV customers, not just those who purchase a GM EV,” says the company.

According to GM, nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a GM dealership. The automaker says nearly 1,000 GM dealers have enrolled in its charging network program to date, with the first charging stations being installed in Wisconsin and Michigan.

GM also has announced that its new line of three Ultium-branded Level 2 smart charging stations will be offered to customers through dealerships and online to provide more home or commercial charging options and help make EV charging more widespread.

“These two initiatives are part of our plan to put everyone in an EV, making access to charging even more seamless than before,” says GM President Mark Reuss. “We want to give customers the right tools and access to charging where and when they need it, while working with our dealer network to accelerate the expansion of accessible charging throughout the U.S. and Canada, including in underserved, rural and urban areas.”