Auto dealerships, which EV advocates have long seen as bottlenecks and bogeymen, could soon be deploying vast numbers of public charging stations. On the heels of the news that Ford’s US dealership network will be installing up to 4,000 DC fast chargers over the next few years, we learn that GM has selected charging provider FLO as the supplier for the automaker’s Dealer Community Charging Program, which will install up to 40,000 public Level 2 EV chargers in local communities across North America.

FLO will provide its CoRe+ MAX chargers to participating dealers. These new charging stations will join the FLO network and GM’s Ultium Charge 360 network, and will be available to all EV drivers.

FLO’s CoRe+ MAX charger delivers a maximum power output of 19.2 kW. FLO will manufacture the chargers for GM in North America, primarily at its new assembly facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan and at its plant in Shawinigan, Quebec (both near Detroit).

One aim of GM’s Dealer Community Charging Program is to expand public charging access in underserved rural and urban areas. Participating dealers are eligible to receive up to 10 Level 2 charging stations, which will be installed in key public locations including workplaces, multi-unit dwellings, event venues, colleges and universities. The first chargers were recently installed in Wisconsin and Michigan at a park, library, sports complex and wellness center.

“GM is a long-term valued collaborator, and we are proud to support this effort to grow access to public EV charging in thousands of local communities across North America,” said Louis Tremblay, FLO’s President and CEO. “Together, FLO, GM and GM dealerships will bring reliable charging to drivers from curbside to countryside.”

“With FLO’s collaboration and the support of our dealer community, we’ll significantly expand reliable and convenient infrastructure across the US and Canada,” said Hoss Hassani, VP of GM EV Ecosystem.

Source: FLO