The U.S. Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg, acknowledged his personal encounters with problematic charging stations during an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.
The DOT press release detailed that the federal funding of $100 million would be allocated to rectify "existing but non-operational, electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure."
"Under President Biden’s leadership, America is leading the electric vehicle revolution. This funding represents the latest step toward building a convenient, affordable, reliable charging network that reaches every corner of our nation," Buttigieg declared.
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Buttigieg confessed to the Wall Street Journal that he, like many EV drivers, has grappled with finding dependable charging stations for his hybrid minivan. "We’ve definitely had that experience. Matter of fact, had it just a few days ago at a park in town," Buttigieg said, referring to a faulty charger.
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He further elaborated, "Imagine what it would be like if you couldn’t be sure when you pulled into a gas station that you’d actually get gas out of it. This is about making sure that access to charging is as reliable as access to fuel is today for gas cars, and we know that that’s not just a question of quantity but also one of quality."
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This month, the Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center reported that 4.1% of 151,506 public charging stations were temporarily unavailable. A recent study by J.D. Power revealed that 20% of drivers who visited a charging station did not use it due to various issues, including malfunctioning chargers.
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U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm lauded Biden for investing in the national EV charging infrastructure "with chargers Made in the U.S.A." She stated, "Today’s investment is a pivotal step toward revitalizing our current charging infrastructure making EV driving cheaper, more reliable, and more convenient."
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The DOT estimates that the funding would entirely cover the repair and replacement costs for all existing eligible publicly and privately owned charging stations. To qualify for the federal funding, the charging stations must be accessible to the public without restrictions.
Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt expressed his belief that the investment in the charging network would stimulate driver demand for EVs.
The Biden administration has plans to invest billions to construct a more reliable and accessible EV charging network with 1.2 million public chargers by 2030. The White House reported that the administration’s plan would necessitate up to $55 billion in public and private capital investment. The administration maintained that the investment would "unlock hundreds of billions of dollars of consumer savings from reduced fuel and maintenance costs."
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