Ford Motor Co., American Honda Motor Co. and BMW on Tuesday said they are forming a new company called ChargeScape that will create a single platform to connect electric utilities, automakers and electric vehicle customers and manage energy usage across the United States and Canada.
"Electric grid reliability and sustainability are the foundation for an EV powered future," Thomas Ruemenapp, vice president of engineering at BMW of North America, said in a statement."ChargeScape aims to accelerate the expansion of smart charging and vehicle-to-everything solutions all over the country, while increasing customer benefits, supporting the stability of the grid and helping to maximize renewable energy usage.
Equally owned by the automakers, ChargeScape is expected to be operational early next year, following closing of the transaction and pending regulatory approvals. The automakers said they are open to participation from other automakers.