Dan MacMedan for Chevrolet
Electric vehicle drivers in Marshfield, Wisconsin, and Owosso, Michigan, are the first to benefit from the General Motors Dealer Community Charging Program. These implementations of new level 2 (AC) chargers are the first in a planned rollout of 40,000 new plug-in points, which GM says will nearly double the number of public charging stations in the US and Canada.
GM first announced the program in October 2021, and since then nearly 1,000 of its Chevrolet dealers have joined the initiative, which is designed to increase access to chargers in underserved, rural and urban locations. GM will provide dealers with up to 10 19.2 kW chargers to be installed in the communities they serve, and the chargers will be available to any EV driver, not just those driving GM electric models.
“Nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a GM dealership. Our dealerships are deeply involved and confident in their communities and are well positioned to identify locations that expand access to EV charging, including for small businesses, entertainment venues, schools and other popular destinations,” said Hoss Hassani, vice president of GM EV Ecosystem.
“Our dealerships are a key driver of our all-electric future and, in many cases, will be the catalyst for electric vehicle adoption in communities that would otherwise have limited electric infrastructure. Combined with their exceptional ability to serve electric drivers across North America, our dealers are now helping to make charging possible across much of the continent,” said Hassani.
Wheeler’s Chevrolet in Wisconsin was the first dealer to join the initiative and has installed chargers in two parks, a library and a sports complex in Marshfield, among others. “We are thrilled to be the first dealer in the country to have these chargers,” said Mary Jo Wheeler-Schueller, owner of Wheelers Chevrolet GMC. “This will help put Marshfield on the EV leadership map. This is a great commuter stop to check out our community and see all that Marshfield has to offer.”
The fledgling Cadillac Chevrolet in Michigan followed suit and has installed its first charger at a health center in Owosso. GM says the next installations will be in Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Ohio and Washington in the coming months. Separately, GM has another program that, along with EVgo, is installing 5,250 DC fast chargers by 2025, including 2,000 fast chargers at Pilot and Flying J travel centers.
