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GM collaborates with Pilot to build EVgo fast-charging network across the U.S.

Credit: EVgo

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General Motors will collaborate with Pilot Company (Pilot and Flying J) to establish a nationwide DC fast-charging network that will be installed, operated, and maintained by EVgo. The project is a demonstration of how public and private companies can help to build out the nationwide EV charging infrastructure, a crucial part of the expansion of electric vehicle adoption.

The 2,000-stall network will be built out along American highways, connecting urban and rural communities. Chargers will be available at 50-mile intervals across the United States.

The chargers will be open to all EV brands at up to 500 Pilot and Flying J locations, and GM customers, due to the collaboration, will receive exclusive benefits, including exclusive reservations, discounts on charging, real-time charger availability updates, and route planning. “This collaboration is expected to enhance America’s EV driving experience,” GM said.

The Pilot and Flying J locations that will be equipped with EVgo fast chargers will include numerous stalls, including ones capable of charging speeds up to 350 kW. EVgo is also working with GM to add more than 3,250 fast chargers to American cities and suburban areas within the next three years. EVgo was chosen due to its expertise in building, operating, and maintaining DC fast charging infrastructure. The sites will feature numerous convenience features as well, including pull-through capabilities for pickups and SUVs hauling trailers, and canopies to protect owners from weather and the elements.

GM’s Mary Barra said, “We are committed to an all-electric, zero-emissions future, and ensuring that the right charging infrastructure is in place is a key piece of the puzzle. With travel centers across North America, Pilot Company is an ideal collaborator to reach a broad audience of EV drivers.”

GM and Pilot Company to Build Out Coast-to-Coast EV Fast Charging Network

GM said that research performed by Escalent in 2021 showed one of the largest barriers to mass EV adoption was a lack of widespread access to highway charging, particularly in underserved urban and rural areas. This is a main reason for the collaboration, according to Cath Zoi, the CEO of EVgo.

“EVgo, GM, and Pilot Company share a commitment to building an electric fueling network that increases access and makes the shift to electrification as frictionless as possible for all. We look forward to this collaboration and ensuring the EVgo network provides nationwide coverage, including critical corridors for road trips, Zoi said. “Through EVgo eXtend, we are demonstrating yet another innovative pathway to help America electrify — and showcasing why EVgo’s technology and industry leadership make us the partner of choice to site hosts, automakers, and drivers alike as we work together to deliver a cleaner future of transportation.”

The collaboration is just one part of GM’s nearly $750 million investment into expanding the EV charging infrastructure:

  • Enabling access to more than 100,000 charge points in the U.S. and Canada through its Ultium Charge 360 ecosystem
  • Collaborating with EVgo to build out a network of 3,250 charging stalls in major metro areas by 2025
  • Installing up to 40,000 chargers in local dealer communities through GM’s Dealer Community Charging Program, focusing on underserved rural and urban areas

On the other hand, the collaboration is also part of Pilot Company’s “New Horizons” initiative, which has set a $1 billion investment aside to fully upgrade travel centers with amenities and other features that are not typically available at current EV charging locations. These include free Wi-Fi, lounge areas, restrooms, on-site restaurants, coffee, travel essentials, and souvenirs.

I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.

Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on X @KlenderJoey. If you're looking for great Tesla accessories, check out shop.teslarati.com

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Tesla receives approval for FSD Supervised tests in Sweden

Tesla confirmed that it has been granted permission to test FSD Supervised vehicles across Sweden in a press release.

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Credit: Grok Imagine

Tesla has received regulatory approval to begin tests of its Full Self-Driving Supervised system on public roads in Sweden, a notable step in the company’s efforts to secure FSD approval for the wider European market. 

FSD Supervised testing in Sweden

Tesla confirmed that it has been granted permission to test FSD Supervised vehicles across Sweden following cooperation with national authorities and local municipalities. The approval covers the Swedish Transport Administration’s entire road network, as well as urban and highways in the Municipality of Nacka.

Tesla shared some insights into its recent FSD approvals in a press release. “The approval shows that cooperation between authorities, municipalities and businesses enables technological leaps and Nacka Municipality is the first to become part of the transport system of the future. The fact that the driving of the future is also being tested on Swedish roads is an important step in the development towards autonomy in real everyday traffic,” the company noted. 

With approval secured for FSD tests, Tesla can now evaluate the system’s performance in diverse environments, including dense urban areas and high-speed roadways across Sweden, as noted in a report from Allt Om Elbil. Tesla highlighted that the continued development of advanced driver assistance systems is expected to pave the way for improved traffic safety, increased accessibility, and lower emissions, particularly in populated city centers.

Tesla FSD Supervised Europe rollout

FSD Supervised is already available to drivers in several global markets, including Australia, Canada, China, Mexico, New Zealand, and the United States. The system is capable of handling city and highway driving tasks such as steering, acceleration, braking, and lane changes, though it still requires drivers to supervise the vehicle’s operations.

Tesla has stated that FSD Supervised has accumulated extensive driving data from its existing markets. In Europe, however, deployment remains subject to regulatory approval, with Tesla currently awaiting clearance from relevant authorities.

The company reiterated that it expects to start rolling out FSD Supervised to European customers in early 2026, pending approvals. It would then be unsurprising if the company secures approvals for FSD tests in other European territories in the coming months. 

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Tesla owners in Sweden get direct attention from pro-union groups

As part of their efforts, the group has started distributing informational leaflets to Tesla vehicles across Stockholm, urging them to pressure the electric vehicle maker to sign a collective agreement.

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Andrzej Otrębski, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Amid Tesla Sweden’s ongoing conflict with trade union IF Metall, a group of pro-union supporters has begun directing their attention to actual Tesla owners.

As part of their efforts, the group has started distributing informational leaflets to Tesla vehicles across Stockholm, urging them to pressure the electric vehicle maker to sign a collective agreement.

Leaflets on parked Tesla vehicles

As noted in a Dagens Arbete (DA) report, participants of the protest place yellow information slips on parked Tesla vehicles across parts of Stockholm. The slips resemble parking notices that contain information related to the unions’ ongoing strike against Tesla Sweden.

Participants involved in the activity said the leaflets were intended to inform consumers rather than target individual owners. The action was carried out in public areas, with leaflets placed on windshields of parked vehicles. When vehicle owners are present, organizers said they provide verbal explanations of the labor dispute.

Tesla has not commented publicly about the matter as of writing.

Recurring demonstrations against Tesla

The leaflet distribution effort follows weekly demonstrations that have taken place outside Tesla’s workshop and office in Upplands Väsby, where protesters typically gather to express support for a collective agreement. Those demonstrations have included informational outreach to customers and workers and, at times, police presence, according to prior reporting.

In a comment, one of the protesters stated that even Tesla owners must be concerned about the unions’ conflict with the electric vehicle maker. “You may think it doesn’t concern you, as you only drive a car. But it does, as we all have a responsibility for the rules in Sweden. 

“We are not looking to hunt down individual Tesla owners. Rather, this is a way to spread opinion and increase pressure on Tesla. It should have some impact if several Tesla owners come in and say that you should sign a collective agreement,” one of the protesters stated. 

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Tesla lands massive deal to expand charging for heavy-duty electric trucks

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Credit: Tesla Semi/X

Tesla has landed a massive deal to expand its charging infrastructure for heavy-duty electric trucks — and not just theirs, but all manufacturers.

Tesla entered an agreement with Pilot Travel Centers, the largest operator of travel centers in the United States. Tesla’s Semi Chargers, which are used to charge Class 8 electric trucks, will be responsible for providing energy to various vehicles from a variety of manufacturers.

The first sites are expected to open later this Summer, and will be built at select locations along I-5 and I-10, major routes for commercial vehicles and significant logistics companies. The chargers will be available in California, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.

Each station will have between four and eight chargers, delivering up to 1.2 megawatts of power at each stall.

The project is the latest in Tesla’s plans to expand Semi Charging availability. The effort is being put forth to create more opportunities for the development of sustainable logistics.

Senior Vice President of Alternative Fuels at Pilot, Shannon Sturgil, said:

“Helping to shape the future of energy is a strategic pillar in meeting the needs of our guests and the North American transportation industry. Heavy-duty charging is yet another extension of our exploration into alternative fuel offerings, and we’re happy to partner with a leader in the space that provides turnkey solutions and deploys them quickly.”

Tesla currently has 46 public Semi Charger sites in progress or planned across the United States, mostly positioned along major trucking routes and industrial areas. Perhaps the biggest bottleneck with owning an EV early on was charging availability, and that is no different with electric Class 8 trucks. They simply need an area to charge.

Tesla is spearheading the effort to expand Semicharging availability, and the latest partnership with Pilot shows the company has allies in the program.

The company plans to build 50,000 units of the Tesla Semi in the coming years, and with early adopters like PepsiCo, DHL, and others already contributing millions of miles of data, fleets are going to need reliable public charging.

Tesla is partnering with other companies for the development of the Semi program, most notably, a conglomeration with Uber was announced last year.

Tesla lands new partnership with Uber as Semi takes center stage

The ride-sharing platform plans to launch the Dedicated EV Fleet Accelerator Program, which it calls a “first-of-its-kind buyer’s program designed to make electric freight more affordable and accessible by addressing key adoption barriers.”

The Semi is one of several projects that will take Tesla into a completely different realm. Along with Optimus and its growing Energy division, the Semi will expand Tesla to new heights, and its prioritization of charging infrastructure.

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