Blink Charging to Provide EV Chargers to General Motors Dealerships

Blink Charging and General Motors Expand Partnership for EV Charger Deployment

Blink Charging, a manufacturer of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, is set to provide EV chargers to General Motors dealerships throughout the United States and Canada. This expansion is being facilitated through a collaboration with ABM, a provider of facility solutions.

Details of the Agreement

The company will be supplying its IQ 200 Level 2 chargers to GM dealerships. While Blink Charging isn't the largest player in the EV charging market, historically trailing behind companies such as Chargepoint, EVBox, Tesla, and Shell, this deal represents a significant opportunity for growth.

Currently, Blink reports having approximately 30,000 EV chargers installed across 13 countries. This partnership with GM is anticipated to bolster the company’s scaling efforts and enhance its brand visibility.

A Continuing Relationship

This collaboration isn’t a new development for GM and Blink. Last April, GM announced plans to integrate the public charging network access of seven different companies – including Blink, ChargePoint, EV Connect, EVgo, FLO, Greenlots, and SemaConnect – into its mobile app.

This integration aimed to simplify the process for customers to locate charging stations. As GM increases its EV production with the goal of capturing market share from Tesla, it appears Blink Charging is being positioned as a key partner in this expansion.

Deployment and Order Details

Initial shipments of chargers to select GM dealerships began in May 2021, managed through ABM’s EV installation services. Additional charging stations are readily available for deployment over the coming months.

The agreement operates on a dealer-by-dealer basis, with no predetermined target for the total number of charging stations or a firm timeline for widespread implementation. To date, Blink has received “nearly 1,000 orders from GM dealers, totaling 1,505 EV chargers,” as stated by a company spokesperson.

Financial Aspects of the Deal

Blink Charging confirmed that this agreement does not involve any direct investment from General Motors. GM dealerships are independently procuring Blink chargers through ABM, their designated procurement partner, benefiting from preferential equipment purchase rates.

IQ 200 Charger Specifications

Blink’s IQ 200 chargers are specifically engineered for fleet applications and incorporate local load management capabilities. This allows for the installation of up to 20 chargers on a single shared electrical circuit without overloading the power grid.

These 80-amp chargers, operating on a 100-amp circuit, can deliver up to 65 miles of range per hour, with a maximum output of 19.2 kW. Installation options include wall, pole, and pedestal mounting.

Future Developments: MQ 200 Chargers

At CES this year, Blink Charging unveiled its next-generation MQ 200 Level 2 chargers, scheduled for release by the end of the first quarter. The company has not yet responded to inquiries regarding whether GM will be offered these updated chargers upon their availability.

The MQ 200s offer enhanced speed and intelligence, featuring software that connects chargers to the cloud and the new Blink Fleet Management Portal, a system particularly well-suited for dealership operations.

Note: This article has been updated to incorporate recent information provided by Blink Charging.