The program will dramatically increase EV charging in much-needed rural areas.
ChargePoint and the National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO) announced today they are launching a $1 Billion “National Highway Charging Collaborative” in an effort to drive the expansion of EV charging along highways and in rural communities in the US.
“ChargePoint is proud to partner with NATSO to significantly expand access to charging along America’s highways while also ensuring that the implementation of charging infrastructure in rural areas accelerates in the years to come,” said Pasquale Romano, President and CEO, ChargePoint. “We are embarking on a major shift in transportation, with electrification poised to fundamentally transform mobility. Collaborations like this are vital for the rapid expansion of charging around the country and will ensure that the United States remains at the forefront of the EV revolution.”
The partnership was formalized as part of an MOU signed by ChargePoint CEO, Pasquale Romano, and NATSO President and CEO, Lisa Mullings. The agreement provides that the National Highway Charging Collaborative will, by 2030:
- Deploy charging infrastructure at 4,000 travel centers and fuel stops, leveraging $1 billion in capital.
- Provide charging infrastructure at fueling locations across the United States with a focus on connecting rural communities.
- Expand availability of charging infrastructure and connect existing Federal Highway Administration-designated FAST Act corridors.
- Work together to achieve policy outcomes to support each of these objectives.
This is yet another integral piece of the EV charging infrastructure puzzle. Charging infrastructure has mostly been concentrated in high-volume, high-density areas, where utilization will be highest. While that’s understandable, huge swaths of the country have been left without much needed public charging equipment.
While this initiative won’t solve all of the infrastructure gaps in rural states, we’re really glad to see this focus on truck stops, travel plazas and even gas stations that serve highway travelers and rural American communities.
“NATSO for the last 20 years has successfully advocated for incentives to enable our members to profitably incorporate renewable fuels into their fuel supply. We look forward to building on these successes so that the travel center industry can continue to play a leading role in bringing alternative fuels to its customers. Our collaboration with ChargePoint will undoubtedly help us do that,” said NATSO President and CEO Lisa Mullings. “Range anxiety continues to rank as one of the biggest concerns among consumers who are considering purchasing an electric vehicle. NATSO has been working with the Federal Highway Administration since 2016 to expand the use of alternative fuels and infrastructure under its Alternative Fuels Corridor Program. The MOU announced today will help to establish public-private partnerships at off-highway fuel retailers across the nation, which will help to mitigate range anxiety and expand the Interstate network of charging facilities under the current program.”
According to the agreement, more than 4,000 NATSO member locations will soon have DC fast and level 2 EV charging stations, and that should make a significant difference in many underserved areas. We look forward to reporting on the progress of this initiative. How about some suggestions about placement?
I’m sure we have a lot of readers that are frustrated by a lack of infrastructure where they live. Why not make some suggestions in the comment section below, we’re sure the folks at ChargePoint and NATSO will be checking in to see what people are saying about the announcement.
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