State Departments of Transportation are making progress in their plans to utilize the federal funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program aims to increase access to electric vehicle charging stations and place half a million new stations across the country by 2030. Last week, all states submitted their plans under NEVI to build out the electric vehicle charging network and we’re taking a look at what’s going on in Delaware and Pennsylvania.
Over the next five years, Delaware plans to install 11 multi-car fast charging EV stations along major travel routes and in communities. Along with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), the DelDOT plans to use $18 million in funds from the BIL. In Delaware’s first phase, five charging stations will be available every 50 miles along major travel routes and in certain targeted areas, specifically the I-95 Biden Welcome Center near Newark, Dover, Rehoboth Beach, Laurel and Selbyville. In the second phase, six more stations will be allocated and meet the state goal of every-25-mile availability. Targeted areas include Middletown, Smyrna, Harrington, Milford, Bridgeville, and Georgetown. The third phase includes stations in high-density residential areas with multi-family housing and street parking in areas without convenient charging options.
“Making it easier for Delawareans to choose to drive electric is a key strategy in Delaware’s Climate Action Plan,” DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin commented.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has $171.5 million allocated for 150 stations to be built in the next three years. All 15 interstate highways and part of Route 30 in Pennsylvania have been designated as alternative fuel corridors. They are currently seeking proposals for the 27 gaps where the distance between charging stations is more than 50 miles and are considering asking developers to submit one bid for all sites or regionally, seek bids for groups of sites.
The NEVI program is accelerating state efforts to reduce transportation emissions and improve air quality and overall public health in communities, and offer more transportation choices. As states continue to embrace the transition to cleaner transportation, hopefully we will begin to see more clean energy jobs and a reduction in air pollution.
Other considerations include what the breakdown of charging sites owned and operated by private companies vs. offered publicly will look like moving forward. Depending on the ownership, is it important for charging rates to remain uniform across the state? As states consider their EV infrastructure plans, they should work to align with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s recent statement, that charging should be “convenient, affordable, reliable and accessible for all Americans”.