Michigan secures $110 million in federal money to build EV charging network
Federal Infrastructure Bill funding is being sent out to states, who are tasked with implementing electric vehicle charging stations in their region.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Money from the Federal Infrastructure Bill has started being distributed to help build out a nationwide electric vehicle charging network. Of the $7.5 billion the legislation commits to the project, states will share from a pool of $5 billion that will be issued over a five year period.
Michigan will receive around $110 million between the years of 2022 and 2026. In order to receive those funds, the state will also have to supply a 20 percent match — which analysts say could come from the private sector.
“If you have a DC fast charging about every 50 miles in major corridors of the State of Michigan, that’s going to enable people to go on longer trips with their electric vehicles.” — Alan Amici, Center for Automotive Research
Listen: The work underway to build out an EV charging network.
Center for Automotive Research President and CEO Alan Amici says while the program is likely not the end of infrastructure funding initiatives, it is a good start.
“If you have a DC fast charging station about every 50 miles in major corridors of the State of Michigan, that’s going to enable people to go on longer trips with their electric vehicles,” says Amici.
Amici shares that the next step for Michigan is to evaluate suppliers and secure a partner to help install the chargers. He anticipates the installation of the statewide network could begin in the second quarter of 2023.
“The more chargers that are available — not just funded by the state government, but by private industry — I think it’ll further reduce range anxiety and further increase the demand for EVs over time,” predicts Amici.
Amici claims DC fast chargers can provide an 80 percent state of charge in less than one hour, with the exact time varying depending on the size of battery.
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