The number of stations is expected to grow to thousands of stations by 2020. Most public charging stations today offer 50-kW service that can add about 50 miles of driving range over a 30-minute period.
But the new planned network will use 350-kW chargers strategically positioned between major cities to reduce electric pit stops for long-range EVs to the length of a coffee break.
Nearly all EV charging today takes place at home or at work, so the need for a robust high-speed charging network is questionable.
Nonetheless, a number of automakers are emphasizing the importance of the combination of long-range electric vehicles, capable of 200 to 300 miles on a single charge, and the availability of ultra-fast charging stations to facilitate road trips.
The American carmaker also announced early last week that a pilot of wireless EV charging technology has been carried out in the US and Europe.
The goal is to make daily recharging as easy as pulling into a parking spot. While wireless charging could be considered a luxury item, and useful for helping drivers not forget to recharge, the ease of plugging in with a wired cord is considered extremely easy and convenient by the vast majority of EV drivers.
Ford said that it has conducted extensive research about the driving patterns of 33,000 Ford EV owners, presumably drivers of the Ford Focus Electric.