Everything to Know About the EV Charging Stations Push

Photo by Chad Russell

Axiom360 welcomes federal programs seeking to establish EV-friendly infrastructure—wonderful news to those wishing for generators and EV chargers in Central Coast, California.

Recently, the government announced a new set of programs whose goals are to establish “a convenient, reliable and Made-in-America” network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. These are critical steps to boost electric vehicle ownership and a decisive direction toward ultimately disconnecting from fossil fuels. 

Although global demand for electric vehicles has largely been on an upward and exponential trend, the infrastructure updates for supporting them have not been so enthusiastic–largely in part because of extensive lobbying from fossil fuel companies. This has resulted in a delay in the mainstream adoption of electric vehicles in several areas around the globe, including the United States.

This move by the current administration heralds a new horizon for electric vehicle use in the US, allowing states and federal authorities to easily go forward with modernization projects, especially in regards to constructing generators and EV chargers in the Central Coast of California. 

Everything to Know About the EV Charging Stations Push

But if you’re one of those people still feeling apprehensive about green energy and the like, here’s all you need to know about the administration’s new push for a broader and more widespread EV charging station network:

• Both the Department of Transportation and the Department of Energy have agreed on new standards that ensure all EV users have equal access to charging stations regardless of the car model and state.
• The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has finalized an outline for federal funding of EV chargers, stipulating that all manufacturing for iron or steel charger chassis be built on US soil. The plan also seeks to have more than half of charger components domestically manufactured by late 2024.
• The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation has released a notice of intent to fund opportunities for electric vehicle charging research to improve their reliability, resiliency, and equity for the American public.
• The Department of Energy has also announced a nearly $8 million fund for seven projects to push for more efficient and effective electric vehicle charging infrastructure across 23 states and benefit millions of Americans.
• The Department of Transportation has introduced the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, an initiative to develop a transcontinental network of electric vehicle chargers along major highways.

Across all 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico, the Department of Transportation is looking to electrify nearly 100,000 miles of federal and state highways. The redirecting of federal funds to this initiative will make EV charging as easy as using a gas station pump. The new standards set by the Federal Highway Administration, in conjunction with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, will also address key issues in electric vehicle use:

• Charging will be made predictable and reliable; there will be consistency in plug types, power levels, and a set minimum number of chargers to meet every driver’s charging demands.
• Chargers will be made available at all times by requiring a 97% uptime reliability.
• Chargers will be easily accessible by providing thorough public data about charging locations, prices, availability, and accessibility with assistance from major mapping applications like Google Maps.
• Chargers will no longer be troubled by identification troubles since a single method for identification that is valid across all charging stations will be set up.
• Charging will stop being a game of catchup by requiring compatibility and forward-looking capabilities like Plug and Charge.

These programs from the current administration are made on top of the already more than $100 billion invested by the private sector.

This is the government’s pledge to establish an accessible, reliable, convenient, and user-friendly EV charging network. By 2030, the White House is eyeing 500,000 new EV chargers.