DETROIT — General Motors said it will work with its dealerships in the U.S. and Canada to establish a network of 40,000 electric vehicle chargers over the next four years.

The chargers will be known as GM’s Ultium battery brand and also be available to buyers of Ultium-powered vehicles, including the upcoming GMC Hummer and Cadillac Lyriq.

Starting in early 2022, GM will distribute up to 10 chargers to each store, and it would be up to each dealer to find locations in the community for placement. GM intends for the chargers to be installed at sites such as shopping centers, offices or even sports fields used by kids.  The chargers aren’t intended to be placed at dealerships.

The effort is part of GM’s $750 million commitment toward creating a charging infrastructure, through 2025.

“We want to give customers the right tools and access to charging where and when they need it,” GM President Mark Reuss said in a statement, “while working with our dealer network to accelerate the expansion of accessible charging throughout the U.S. and Canada, including in underserved, rural and urban areas.”

GM said its Dealer network footprint extends to within 10 miles of nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population, putting dealers in the best position to determine where chargers should be located to serve their customer base.

The chargers would be open to vehicles of any compatible brand, and dealers would be able to display their own branding information. They are Level 2 chargers, which means they use 240 volts.

 The second wave of electrification?

The second wave of electrification is seeing support from both the public and private sectors. Investors are carefully watching infrastructure build-out, which when fully viable, will promise significant dividends.

GM expects that site owners will cover the cost of installation for a majority of the chargers and set pricing or decide whether to let customers use them for free, according to Alex Keros, GM’s chief architect for EV charging infrastructure.

GM did not say how much customers would pay for the chargers when bought with a vehicle. The chargers will be available in 11.5-kilowatt and 19.2-kilowatt versions, and the cost can be rolled into lease or financing payments.