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.

Click here to read more ⁤from The Washington⁣ Examiner.