Charging an electric car in public can be a pain in the butt. Assuming you have the app set up correctly with your payment information, it's no harder than filling up for gas, but if you pull up to an unfamiliar charging network, good luck getting it to go through on the first try.

This playbook goes beneath the sales figures and fleet announcements to present insights from EV and utility industry experts regarding four near- and mid-term trends shaping the emergence of electric vehicles in the U.S. and abroad. Utility leaders will learn why today’s market requires faster development of a charging infrastructure while discovering the importance of: 

• New state regulations and mandates

• Evolving standards for EV charging

• Bidirectional charging capabilities, and more!

It takes two to make a thing go electric. While that may not be the exact saying, there is a partnership between OEMs and charging companies to make the transition to incorporate electric trucks successfully.

The case for electrification is clear. Total cost of ownership is lower for electric vehicles than internal combustion engines (ICE), and that’s even before factoring in grants, rebates, and other incentives. Plus, it’s the right thing to do environmentally, especially as customers, investors, and employees alike demand greater sustainability commitments. It’s a better, cleaner, quieter ride, which makes for even happier drivers.

Some recent posts by EVgo show that it is not only working with GM and Pilot/Flying J truck stops to expand, but is also continuing to expand urban and suburban charging opportunities for EV owners. Last week, EVgo got its Trekkie on when it opened up a new station on Vulcan Street in Encinitas, California. They even brought Star Trek-themed cookies to the event!

General Motors is teaming up with Pilot Flying J to build a national fast-charge network for EVs. Plans call for 2,000 charging stations — including 350-kilowatt DC fast chargers — at roughly 500 Pilot Flying J travel centers at 50-mile intervals. Any EV brand can access the network, but GM said its customers will receive benefits such as discounts, exclusive reservations and access to real-time availability and route planning through the automaker’s apps.

This is big. General Motors (GM) has announced that it is adding Plug and Charge capabilities to its Ultium Charging 360 network of charge providers across North America and across its line of Bolt, Hummer and Cadillac Lyriq EVs.

To begin, drivers with an EVgo account will be able to utilize the convenience of Plug and Charge before GM expands the technology to additional charging networks across its Ultium Charge 360 family.