Three Alabama automakers are taking part in a seven-member joint venture to rapidly expand access to electric vehicle charging stations in North America.

Honda, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz are joining the BMW Group, General Motors, Kia and Stellantis NV in developing a new, high-powered charging network with at least 30,000 chargers. The joint venture is expected to be established this year.

The new charging stations will be accessible to all battery-powered electric vehicles from any automaker using Combined Charging System (CCS) or North American Charging Standard (NACS).

The first stations are expected to open in the U.S. next summer.

Each site will be equipped with multiple high-powered DC chargers, making long-distance journeys easier for customers, and the charging network will be powered “solely by renewable energy,” according to an announcement.

Initial plans call for charging stations in metropolitan areas and along major highways, including connecting corridors and vacation routes.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are currently 32,000 publicly available DC fast chargers in the U.S. for use by 2.3 million electric vehicles, a ratio of 72 vehicles per charger. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that 182,000 DC fast chargers will be needed to support 30 to 42 million plug-in vehicles, which are expected on the road by 2030.

Mercedes-Benz got a jump on the other partners earlier this month by announcing its drivers will be able to use Tesla Superchargers in North America beginning next year.