California's plan to allocate $40.5 million for electric vehicle fast-chargers

author: FutureCar Staff    

The state of California is set to distribute $40.5 million in federal funding to build electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers, according to an announcement by Governor Gavin Newsom's office. The funding will be used to construct 270 EV fast chargers across 26 sites along California highways. This initiative is part of U.S. President Joe Biden's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and aims to create at least four fast chargers every 50 miles in the state.

In addition to this funding, California expects to receive over $380 million in federal funding to help build 6,600 miles of EV corridors. This investment is part of the California Climate Commitment, which also includes over $10 billion in state funding to accelerate the adoption of EV cars, trucks, buses, and infrastructure sites. Governor Newsom attributes this funding to President Biden's infrastructure law and states that it will help build EV chargers throughout the state.

California has been actively seeking other sources of funding for its EV infrastructure. The federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program aims to create a coast-to-coast network of fast chargers and has provided the state with access to $81.7 million. Additionally, the Federal Highway Administration has approved California's NEVI Deployment Plan, further supporting the state's efforts.

Newsom recently announced that California has already surpassed its 2025 goal for zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) truck sales and achieved its goal for ZEV passenger automobiles in April. These milestones demonstrate the state's commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

California's progress in promoting EV adoption aligns with its decision to ban the sale of new gas cars by 2035. The state has set tiered EV adoption goals leading up to this deadline. Furthermore, Tesla's plan to open its Supercharger network to non-Tesla vehicles next year, along with most automakers adopting the North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, further supports the growth of EV infrastructure in California.

Recently, Tesla sold $100 million worth of Superchargers to bp (formerly British Petroleum), marking the first time the automaker has sold its own hardware to another company. This partnership will result in the installation of Superchargers at many bp pulse sites.

Overall, the funding and initiatives in California are driving the expansion of EV fast chargers, connecting Californians, reducing pollution, and paving the way for a cleaner and more sustainable future.

FutureCar Staff