What’s Happening
EVgo Inc., one of America’s most extensive public fast-charging networks for electric vehicles (EVs), along with its eXtend partners, have been chosen by DriveOhio, a division of the Ohio Department of Transportation, for proposed funding awards worth $13.8M. This fund is designated for the establishment of 20 fast charging stations, with fourteen out of the twenty to be owned by EVgo eXtend partner, Pilot Company.
Why It Matters
As part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, this funding highlights Ohio’s progressive efforts towards promoting electric vehicles. The NEVI program, established following the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s passage, holds over $5 billion in funding to enhance the national EV charging infrastructure. Ohio being one of the first states to announce awards from the NEVI program signifies the state’s commitment to the EV sector and environmental sustainability.
Key Points
All the newly funded stations will feature 350kW high-power fast charging. Of the total $18M released by DriveOhio in the first NEVI funding round, over 75% was awarded to EVgo and its eXtend partners. This is a crucial leap forward in EV infrastructure, as Cathy Zoi, CEO at EVgo, indicates that these fast charging deployments are scaling at a rate never seen before, largely due to public-private partnerships like NEVI.
Bottom Line
Over the next five years, DriveOhio is set to release more than $100M in NEVI funds to further bolster the state’s EV charging infrastructure. This initial funding round has already resulted in over $18 million dedicated to 27 new EV charging stations along crucial corridors. Currently, Ohio has 130 publicly available fast chargers. EVgo operates 37 fast-charging stalls across 10 locations in Ohio, including key metro markets like Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati. This funding allocation is another firm step towards meeting the growing demand for fast-charging infrastructure across the state and the nation.
