One of the biggest advantages Tesla has over the competition is its expansive Supercharger network. General Motors (GM) is eager to catch up, announcing a new product today called Ultium Charge 360.
Described as a holistic charging approach, the automaker is partnering with seven third-party EV charging networks – Blink Charging, ChargePoint, EV Connect, EVgo, FLO, Greenlots and SemaConnect.
Ultium Charge 360 will integrate these charging networks into GM’s mobile apps to simplify the charging experience for their electric vehicle (EV) owners.
“GM agrees with the customer need for a robust charging experience that makes the transition to an EV seamless and helps drive mass adoption,” said Travis Hester, GM’s chief EV officer. “As we launch 30 EVs globally by the end of 2025, Ultium Charge 360 simplifies and improves the at-home charging experience and the public charging experience – whether it’s community-based or road-trip charging.”
With the partnerships, GM EV owners will be able to see real-time information on over 60,000 charging points across Canada and the US. They will also be able to find stations along a route or pay for charging sessions through the GM mobile app.
Along with the new collaborations, GM says it will also offer new products and services. One example given is the free installation of a level 2 home charger for some customers.
“To help ensure the transition to an EV is seamless, GM is working to offer EV owners charging accessories and installation services tailored to their lifestyle. For example, GM will cover standard installation of Level 2 charging capability for eligible customers who purchase or lease a 2022 Bolt EUV or Bolt EV in collaboration with Qmerit.”
The automaker did not announce when Ultium Charge 360 will launch, only to say it is coming “soon”.
It remains to be seen if it will offer the same ease of use as the Supercharger network, where all you had to do is pull up and plug in.
