GM, Pilot, and EVgo share progress updates, installing EV fast chargers across 25+ states
Less than three years after signing a partnership agreement to implement a massive EV charging network of new stations across the US, GM Energy, Pilot Co., and EVgo has shared how far that expansion has gotten so far, reaching locations in 25 states around the US with plans for plenty more.
Today’s progress update initially dates back to July 2022, when GM Energy, General Motors’ charging solutions division, announced a partnership with Pilot Company to implement a coast-to-coast DC fast charging network co-branded with the “Pilot Flying J” and GM logos.
Another GM partner, EVgo, would provide the chargers themselves. This was made possible by an agreement between the EV charger specialist and Delta electronics, announced shortly after the GM/Pilot deal. Since then, progress has been relatively quiet.
However, GM shared an update this morning that the automaker and its partners have established EV fast chargers across more than 25 states.
GM branded EV chargers had reached 130 US stations
Per a joint release from GM Energy, Pilot, and EVgo this morning, it has successfully expanded its EV charging network to over 130 Pilot and Flying J stations across the US in over 25 states, particularly along popular transit corridors and major interstate routes. Pilot senior vice president of alternative fuels Shannon Sturgil spoke about the progress among the three companies:
Pilot is out here for the journey makers, regardless of how they fuel up. We’re in the wide-open spaces off the interstate, uniquely qualified with amenities EV drivers need to help them make the most of their miles. The collaboration with General Motors and EVgo will continue to bring highway-based charging to more regions and routes where this infrastructure is needed.
While EV chargers in over 25 states are tremendous progress, GM Energy and its partners are less than halfway to their proposed network size, including up to 2,000 charging piles at up to 500 Pilot and Flying J locations. The EVgo fast chargers provide drivers with nearly all EV makes and models access 350 kW charge rates and Plug and Charge capabilities for compatible vehicles, like those from GM. Per EVgo president Dennis Kish:
As part of our ongoing collaboration with Pilot Company and GM, we’re delivering a customer-centric charging experience across our country’s most traveled corridors, building new infrastructure to connect rural, urban and suburban communities. Infrastructure availability is a key factor for drivers considering the choice to drive electric, and EVgo will continue to deploy high-power charging infrastructure nationwide to support current and future EV drivers.
According to the companies, customers have been quite pleased with the existing EV charger network thus far, tallying high ratings on the popular app PlugShare. They cite fast charge rates and welcomed amenities, including Pilot and Flying J stations, including lounges, grab-and-go food, and complimentary WiFi.
To support sustained growth in EV sales, which is well beyond “critical mass” at this point, GM, Pilot, and EVgo said they would continue collaborating to install additional EV chargers infrastructure, connecting more highway corridors across the US. You can learn more about those charging stations, amenities, and locations here.
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The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SEL is more expensive than the more basic SE, but it’s a better lease deal this month – here’s the lowdown.
The 2025 IONIQ 5 SE Standard Range is the cheapest lease deal right now because it can be leased for $199 per month over 24 months with $3,999 due at signing.
If you want to drive the 2025 IONIQ 5 SE Long Range, which adds an extra 73 miles of range and 57 horsepower, the monthly payment rises to $229 per month over 24 months, with $3,999 due at signing. As CarsDirect points out, that puts the effective monthly cost at $396, and that’s a fantastic deal relative to the SE Long Range’s price of $48,125.
But when we look at the SEL trim, things get interesting: You can upgrade to the $51,075 SEL model for just $10 more per month.
Hyundai cut $40 off the lease price of the 2025 IONIQ 5 SEL in March, giving it a monthly price of $406. CarsDirect reports that Hyundai is able to offer this great deal on the SEL trim because of the comparably high residual value (65% vs. 63%) and $750 more in lease cash ($12,250 vs. $11,500) factored into the payment than the SE Long Range.
The SEL and SE Long Range have the same powertrain, but that extra $10 a month gets you projector headlights, roof rails, a hands-free power liftgate, a power passenger seat, heated rear seats, rear climate control vents, a heated steering wheel, and other goodies.
These 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 offers are advertised in Los Angeles and are valid through March 31.
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Environment
Tesla is banned from Canada EV rebate program, gov freezes suspicous $43 million in rebates
Tesla has been banned from upcoming federal EV rebate programs in Canada as the government freezes the suspicious $43 million in rebates that Tesla claimed days before the program was paused earlier this year.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Tesla claimed $43 million in government rebates from the iZEV federal EV rebate program in Canada just a few days before the program was paused due to a lack of funds.
The move was suspicious as it would have required Tesla to deliver over 8,000 vehicles at just 4 locations on a weekend, which is physically impossible.
It is believed that Tesla preemptively filed for thousands of rebates after being made aware of the pause to ensure it wouldn’t run out in an anticipated surge in demand due to the program’s pause.
However, this tactic proved problematic. The government told other car dealers who actually delivered EVs before the end of the program that they couldn’t get the rebates, which were already applied to the customer purchases, as Tesla took most of the money for vehicles it likely didn’t deliver.
Today, Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s new transport minister, confirmed that the funds have been frozen until it can investigate precisely what happened with Tesla’s rebates.
Furthermore, Freeland confirmed that Tesla will be banned from future federal rebates for electric vehicles. In this case, it has more to do with the trade war launched by President Trump, whose biggest political donor is Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
She said (via the Toronto Star):
No payments will be made until we are confident that the claims are valid. I also directed my department to change the eligibility criteria for future iZEV programs to ensure that Tesla vehicles will not be eligible for incentives so long as the illegitimate and illegal U.S. tariffs are imposed against Canada.
The federal government is following the same strategy as some provinces. British Columbia has recently banned Tesla products from its EV charger rebate. Nova Scotia just announced that it has excluded Tesla from its $2,000 rebate at the purchase of a new EV.
Quebec just relaunched its own EV incentive program today. It will come into effect next week, and so far, Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y vehicles are still included in the list of eligible vehicles.
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XCharge North America (XCharge NA) and Hypercharge Networks are bringing bidirectional DC fast chargers to Canada, starting in British Columbia and Ontario.
The partnership will introduce XCharge NA’s battery-integrated GridLink 300 kW DC fast chargers that improve grid stability.
GridLink chargers are bidirectional, so they allow power to flow back into the grid or act as an off-grid energy source, contributing to overall grid stability. With a battery storage capacity of 215 kilowatt-hours (kWh), expandable up to 430 kWh, GridLink helps businesses avoid expensive grid upgrades and demand charges.
The chargers are capable of integrating directly with renewable energy sources like solar panels. This makes them ideal for regions still building out their electrical infrastructure to support rapid EV growth, particularly rural areas.
Under the deal, XCharge NA will supply the GridLink chargers, while Hypercharge will distribute them to automotive dealerships and other commercial customers throughout Canada. Hypercharge will manage software, customer support, and routine maintenance, and its team will receive special training from XCharge NA for more technical hardware repairs.
The partnership aims to address Canada’s rising demand for EV charging by making infrastructure more accessible and reliable. “We look forward to seeing how our GridLinks can help strengthen Canada’s grid stability, particularly in rural deployments, while also addressing the region’s growing demand for EVs and supporting electric transportation needs,” said Aatish Patel, cofounder and president of XCharge NA.
Read more: California now has nearly 50% more EV chargers than gas nozzles
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