Stellantis and other auto companies, including GM and Mercedes, to battle Tesla with new charging JV for NA

[CloversPlusCats]

7 auto giants unite to build universal network of 30K+ clean-energy-powered fast chargers to North America

And yes, it’ll have NACS accessibility. In a shocking but exciting announcement this morning, a group of some of the...

electrek.co

• NACS and CCS included in stalls
• 100% powered by renewable energy (we'll see)
• First chargers deployed next summer, including in NEVI spots

 

[cgseller]

This is a good thing. I see this as competition w/o competing standards. This will incentivize innovation and could keep end user costs in check. The article above talks about Kia and Hyundai as two separate entities but calls Stellantis and BMW as one; odd.

The momentum does create a small opportunity for rural small business owners as well, who can get a charger at their location to draw drivers for eating, shopping, or other commerce activities. Small just off the beaten path villages may also offer community chargers to get tourists to stop in the town to charge and shop/visit. While most vacations take interstate freeways, many take small state or county roads on trips and can be incentivized to stop at a local store or town to get juiced... (and maybe juiced if it is some of the regulated rec. states)

It should be six; BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai-Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis

 

[pumadog]

Original source: Seven Automakers Unite to Create a Leading High-Powered Charging Network Across North America

No clue why Hyundai-Kia chose to appear separately.

 

[patfromigh]

Also found here, Stellantis Media - Seven Automakers Unite to Create a Leading High-powered Charging Network Across North America

I wonder how Stellantis will weave Free-2-Move into this.

 

[Deckard Cain]

I think in the US this is very important because the fast charging networks outside of Tesla aren't well developed as opposed to Europe.

 

[TripleT]

I despise government interference in the marketplace, and good on Tesla for developing there own system to make the product viable...


Butttttttttttt ultimately there needs to be a universal standard at least for public charging.

 

[cgseller]

I despise government interference in the marketplace, and good on Tesla for developing there own system to make the product viable...


Butttttttttttt ultimately there needs to be a universal standard at least for public charging.

Yep, could you imagine the adapter portfolio you would have if 120v outlet adapters were never standardized.

 

[TripleT]

Worked on a house that had edison sockets in the walls

 

[patfromigh]

A Stellantis Fleet newsletter showed up in my inbox this morning. Here is an article which answers my previous post.

Charging Your Way: Stellantis Launches Free2move Charge to Make it ‘Easy to Always Be Charged’​

• Complete charging ecosystem aims to deliver seamless electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy management for customers
• Free2move Charge embodies the e-ABC Promise: easy to Always Be Charged
• First products and services launching now in North America and expanding to Europe
• Free2move Charge is the first ecosystem of charging hardware, software and services under the new Stellantis Charging & Energy Business Unit, an accretive business supporting Dare Forward 2030
  AMSTERDAM, June 27, 2023 - Stellantis today launched Free2move Charge, a 360-degree ecosystem that will seamlessly deliver charging and energy management to address all EV customer needs, anywhere and in any way. Managed by the new Stellantis Charging & Energy Business Unit, Free2move Charge addresses electric vehicle customer needs at home, in their business and on-the-go.
  “As the pace of mainstream EV adoption accelerates, our customers need us to be more than just a mobility provider,” said Ricardo Stamatti, Stellantis Senior Vice President, Charging & Energy Business Unit. “We are taking the lead in establishing a dedicated business unit that will support our bold electrification strategy and act as a natural extension of our iconic brands. Free2move Charge is the first product rolling out, exemplifying our purpose of delivering performance, value, sustainability and electrified mobility freedom for all.”
  e-ABC Promise: easy to Always Be Charged

PRESS RELEASE
Making it easy to Always Be Charged (the e-ABC Promise), Free2move Charge also makes it smart, understanding users’ needs and optimizing overall energy management to improve efficiency, reliability, and access, reducing the total cost of ownership and maximizing environmental benefits.
Working with a Free2move e-Genius team, customers will be able to create a personalized package they can change and adapt at any time during the ownership experience, allowing it to evolve and always be tailored to their needs. e-Genuis support will be available first in Europe.
By removing barriers to battery electric vehicle ownership, including charging anxiety, Free2move Charge is a key tool to achieve the goals of the Stellantis Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan, including reaching a 100% passenger car battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales mix in Europe and a 50% passenger car and light-duty truck BEV sales mix in the United States by 2030.
Free2move Charge: Built on Three Pillars

• Free2move Charge Home delivers private customers support with installation, financing, and warranty of home charging and other energy hardware and services. Options can range from AC charging cables and wall boxes today to Vehicle-2-Home, Vehicle-2-Grid, and complete energy management systems with cutting-edge features like touch-free wireless solutions and inductive robot charging under development for future releases.
• Free2move Charge Business tackles all hurdles as a one-stop-shop platform with a full suite of charging and energy services: early-on support, estimation of initial and future running costs, right-sizing of charging infrastructure, installation, maintenance, and public charging access while on the go.
• Free2move Charge GO guarantees seamless access to the largest possible curated network of public charging points through partners in North America, Europe, and other regions to be announced soon. In addition to access, payment, and 24-7 support, Free2move Charge GO will progressively launch leading features like Plug and Charge, reservations, loyalty programs, subscriptions, prepaid packages, single invoice/billing and even deliver a charge to a requested location when needed.
  Free2move Charge will harness the power of the Stellantis Energy Cloud, seamlessly integrating with vehicle-branded mobile apps and the state- of-the-art STLA SmartCockpit platform launching in 2024 to deliver fast,intelligent routes and charging recommendations to customers based on their actual usage and needs. Free2move Charge will guide Stellantis customers through an onboarding process to understand their individual needs, allowing for deep personalization and using AI learning to constantly improve its knowledge about the most convenient individual charging experience.

Free2move eSolutions, a Stellantis tech company, will continue to develop and provide industry-leading charging hardware and software that supports the Free2move Charge ecosystem, as well as non-captive customers, and work with other industry leaders to bring more EV charging solutions to market.