Attention, potential car buyers: New electric vehicle charging stations are on their way to highway locations near you.
All 50 states received final approval Tuesday to begin construction on a first nationwide network of EV charging stations that place one roughly every 50 miles (80 kilometers) along interstate highways, part of the Biden administration’s plan to spur widespread adoption of zero-emission cars, reports CTV News Canada.
The Transportation Department said it had OK’d EV charger plans from the last group of 17 states, triggering the release of $1.5 billion in federal funds to all jurisdictions nationwide — or $5 billion over five years — to install or upgrade chargers along 75,000 miles (120,000 kilometers) of highway from coast to coast, with a goal of 500,000 EV chargers nationwide, according to Market Watch.
By the end of the year, drivers will start seeing upgrades to existing highway EV stations in states such as California, Colorado, Florida, and Pennsylvania that now feature at least four fast-charger ports, enabling EVs to fully recharge in about an hour.
“America led the original automotive revolution in the last century, and … we’re poised to lead in the 21st century with electric vehicles,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. He said the plans will “help ensure that Americans in every part of the country — from the largest cities to the most rural communities — can be positioned to unlock the savings and benefits of electric vehicles.”
And U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued the following statement on the final approval by the U.S. Department of Transportation that allows the construction of an EV charging network.
“The action today by the DOT approving a nationwide network of EV charging stations is a major step forward in making travel in the U.S. more sustainable. This investment will lead to the ability to travel anywhere across the U.S. by electric vehicle with greater confidence, ensuring America’s roadways connect rural areas to urban population centers. This important first step should increase broader acceptance of EVs by enabling greater mobility and access to the traveling public.”
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