General Motors announced today that it has expanded its collaboration with EVgo to create the new Plug and Charge service to the Ultium Charge 360 ecosystem. With that, the automaker hopes to make charging an EV in public easier for drivers in the U.S. and Canada.
With multiple charging service providers, EV drivers are asked to have a dizzying number of charging apps on their phones in order to get the electricity they need. Plug and Charge, though, is designed to work on multiple public charging networks in much of North America.
As of today, the service is available at all EVgo DC fast-charging stations, and GM is working to include all compatible DC fast-charging stations across the Ultium Charge 360 network. Through that, EV drivers will have access to more than 100,000 charge points in the U.S. and Canada. In the last year, the automaker has added EVGateway, EVPassport, EVCS, and NoodoeEV to its network of 11 charge station operators.
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General Motors has also previously announce that it will invest $750 million in charging infrastructure through the Ultium Charge 360 ecosystem. Plug and Charge, meanwhile, works with all current and upcoming GM EVs based on the Ultium Platform, including the GMC Hummer EV and the Cadillac Lyriq. It’s also available on Chevrolet Bolt EVs and Bolt EUVs with DC fast-charging capability.
Although the service aims to make charging simpler, setting it up requires certain steps. Customers must have an EVgo account as well as active OnStar connected services. They must also have the GM brand app for their vehicle (myChevrolet, myCadillac, etc.) and perform a one-time activation.
Once you’re all set up, though, GM says that drivers can simply plug a charging cable into their vehicle and walk away with no additional action required of them, which does sound nice.
“We want to be the company that makes the EV experience seamless and convenient for everyone,” said Hoss Hassani, GM vice president of EV Ecosystem. “Our collaboration with EVgo on Plug and Charge complements the work already in place with Ultium Charge 360 and is a part of our larger effort this year to expand charging infrastructure, access and education.”
