In a sign that electric vehicles might be down in the U.S. but not out, a major industry lobbying group welcomed an EV charger developer into its membership for the first time.
The new Alliance for Automotive Innovation member, EVgo, is one of the biggest EV charging infrastructure providers in the country, the group said in announcing the addition to its ranks.
The alliance, which lobbies on behalf of automakers that make and sell cars in the U.S., also has suppliers, battery makers, technology providers and autonomous vehicle companies on its roster. But EVgo is its first EV charger provider member.
Founded in 2010, Los Angeles-based EVgo operates over 4,600 fast-charging points among 1,100 locations in 47 states, according to the alliance. It partners with retailers, ride-share operators and autonomous auto companies to deploy its infrastructure.
The company says it “has ongoing technical collaborations with leading automakers and industry partners to advance the EV charging industry and deliver a seamless charging experience.” The company plans to expand its charger network to 15,000 points by 2029, according to the alliance.
“Automakers are deploying cutting-edge technologies and innovative electrified powertrains,” alliance President and CEO John Bozzella said. “It’s an exciting time and key to our global competitiveness. More public EV charging goes hand-in-hand with EV adoption. EVgo is the association’s first charging infrastructure company, and we know this perspective will help drive policies that benefit the full EV charging infrastructure and supply chain.”
U.S. EV adoption sustained a blow when the Trump administration ended a federal tax credit for EV purchases and leases on Oct. 1. The administration has moved to tamp down adoption in other ways, including withdrawing federal funding for more public chargers, a move at least 16 states and Washington, D.C. have sued it over in an effort to reverse.
EVgo says seven million Americans have so far opted for EVs over other power trains. According to the alliance, consumers have more than 100 EV model options between new and used vehicles.
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