All 50 states received final approval Tuesday to begin construction on a first nationwide network of EV charging stations that places 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.
The Transportation Department said it had OK’d EV charger plans from a last set 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. Plans for the other 33 states and the District of Columbia were approved earlier this month.
By the end of the year, drivers in states such as California, Colorado, Florida, and Pennsylvania may witness additions and enhancements to current highway EV stations that now include at least four fast-charger ports, allowing EVs to fully recharge in approximately an hour.
The approval is a major step toward building widespread acceptance and use of electric vehicles among consumers, who most often express hesitancy over EVs’ shorter range and limited availability of public chargers. President Joe Biden has set a goal that 50% of new U.S. car sales be electric by 2030, and his administration touts new tax credits next year of up to $7,500 as making electric vehicles accessible for everyday Americans. Still, the five-year plans suggest a potentially long and bumpy road ahead for a highway EV network, with states citing risks such as a lack of electricity grid capacity, supply chain shortages and equity concerns.
For example, while Texas, California, and Florida believe their grids can manage a million or more EVs, other states remain sceptical.
In its proposal, New Mexico stated that “capacity will become a challenge in future years as charging facilities and EVs become more prevalent.”
“Unmanaged or unplanned for EV charging might cause utilities to incur considerable costs to maintain grid dependability and create issues for grid operators,” Vermont stated, adding that some areas “may also need costly system modifications and buildout.”
Mississippi identified probable shortages of EV charging station equipment as a reason for building delays that “may cause major setbacks.” Several states have also expressed concern that they may be unable to obtain charging stations that match the American-made requirements.
States must also prioritise more expensive fast chargers on interstate routes, which typically cost $40,000 to $100,000 to install, over homes and communities with Level 2 chargers, which are less expensive but take several hours to charge.
Currently, electric car users charge their vehicles at home 80% of the time, mainly in single-family homes. However, this is expected to change as more low-income people who don’t have a garage to house a charging station purchase EVs.
Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure package includes an additional $2.5 billion in local subsidies to close remaining gaps in the charging network in rural and underprivileged neighbourhoods, where people are less likely to purchase higher-priced electric vehicles or have charging stations nearby. The Federal Highway Administration announced on Tuesday that applications for the funds will be accepted later this year.