Biden admin allocates $100M to tackle electric vehicle hurdle.
The Biden Administration Announces $100 Million Funding to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
The Biden administration is taking a major step towards addressing the challenges faced by electric vehicle (EV) drivers in the United States. In an effort to encourage more people to switch to EVs, the administration has announced a new $100 million federal funding initiative to enhance the availability and reliability of public charging stations.
Under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these funds will be directed towards the thousands of charging stations across the country that are currently listed as “temporarily unavailable.” This move aims to alleviate one of the main concerns cited by drivers when considering the switch from gas-powered vehicles to EVs.
“This funding represents the latest step toward building a convenient, affordable, reliable charging network that reaches every corner of our nation,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
The funding will be accessible to both public and private charging stations, as long as they are open to the public. The Department of Transportation has stated that the funds will likely cover the repair or replacement costs of eligible projects. Currently, out of the 151,506 public charging ports in the country, 6,261 (4.1%) are reported as unavailable.
Even top government officials have experienced difficulties finding working charging stations. Secretary Buttigieg himself shared in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that he has faced challenges locating charging stations for his hybrid minivan. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm also encountered a situation where a Georgia family called the police on her staff for blocking off a charger for her use.
President Joe Biden and Democrats have been actively working to improve the charging infrastructure. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $5 billion to assist states in expanding charging sites, while the 2022 Democratic Inflation Reduction Act provided tax credits for fast charger installations.
However, access to charging infrastructure remains limited for many Americans, particularly those who rely on street parking and public chargers. Currently, the United States has over 3 million EVs on the road, but only around 103,000 publicly available charging stations, resulting in approximately one public charger for every 29 EVs, according to the Biden administration’s estimates.
A study conducted by J.D. Power revealed that satisfaction with public chargers has significantly declined. Stewart Stropp, the executive director of EV intelligence at J.D. Power, emphasized that the availability of public chargers is the biggest obstacle for potential EV buyers.
“The growth in public charging isn’t keeping pace with the rising number of EVs on the road,” Stropp stated.
With this new funding initiative, the Biden administration aims to bridge the gap and create a more convenient and reliable charging network that caters to the needs of EV drivers across the nation.
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