Charging Infrastructure at Scale

The partnership between General Motors and Pilot Flying J has produced something the US electric vehicle market has long needed: a large-scale DC fast charging network built around the geography of the American road trip rather than urban population density. The GM-Pilot charging network now spans more than 25 states, with chargers installed at Pilot Flying J travel centers along major interstate corridors, giving EV drivers a practical option for long-distance travel through regions where third-party charging infrastructure has historically been sparse.

The initiative reflects a strategic calculation by both partners. For GM, it provides a charging infrastructure argument to potential EV buyers who cite range anxiety as a primary reason for avoiding electric vehicles. For Pilot Flying J, it positions the truck stop chain for an electrified future while providing a revenue stream from charging fees and the ancillary spending that EV drivers — who stop for longer than gasoline customers — tend to generate inside the travel center.

Network Specifications

The chargers being installed across the Pilot Flying J network are SAE CCS-compatible DC fast chargers rated at up to 350 kilowatts, among the fastest available to retail customers in North America. At 350 kW, a compatible vehicle like the Hyundai Ioniq 6 or Kia EV6 can recover roughly 60 miles of range in five minutes and reach 80 percent charge in approximately 18 minutes. Most current EVs max out below 350 kW, so real-world charging speeds vary by vehicle, but the infrastructure is future-proofed for next-generation vehicles with higher charge acceptance rates.

Each installation typically includes between four and eight charging stalls. Pilot Flying J travel centers are already equipped with the electrical infrastructure needed for high-power installations — they run diesel fuel islands, refrigeration, and large foodservice operations — which reduces the cost and permitting timeline compared to deploying chargers at locations that require new utility connections.

NACS compatibility is being added to new installations and retrofitted to existing ones, a decision made in the wake of major EV manufacturers adopting NACS as a standard port. This means the GM-Pilot network will be compatible with virtually all new EVs sold in the US market going forward.