By Michael Elkins
U.S. President Joe Biden, at the Detroit Auto Show Wednesday, announced the approval for $900 million in federal funding for a nationwide electrical vehicle charging network. As part of a $1 trillion infrastructure law passed in November, the first $900 million will be used to finance the construction of EV chargers across 53,000 miles of the national highway system in 34 states and Puerto Rico.
The initial round of funding focuses on areas close to interstates, no more than 50 miles apart on key corridors. The aim is to give drivers of electric vehicles the confidence that they’ll be able to find somewhere to recharge on long trips.
“It used to be that to buy an electric car, you had to make all sorts of compromises. But not now. Thanks to American ingenuity, American engineers, American autoworkers – it’s all changing,” Biden said at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
“I’m pleased to announce that we’re approving funding for the first 35 states, including Michigan, to build their own charging infrastructure throughout their state. The great American road trip is going to be fully electrified. Whether you’re driving coast to coast along I-10, or on I-75 here in Michigan, charging stations will be up and as easy to find as gas stations are now,” the president said in remarks to a crowd of autoworkers and supporters.