Pete Buttigieg addresses challenges with EVs, unveils $100 million plan for charger repairs

author: FutureCar Staff    

The Biden administration has approved a $100 million effort to repair and replace broken electric vehicle chargers, according to the Department of Transportation. United States Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, admitted that he has faced issues when trying to charge his vehicle.

The Department of Transportation's press release states that the federal funding will be used to fix existing non-operational electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Secretary Buttigieg expressed that this funding is a step towards creating a convenient and reliable charging network that covers the entire nation.

In his interview with the WSJ, Buttigieg shared his personal experience of struggling to find reliable charging stations for his hybrid minivan. He emphasized the need to ensure that access to charging is as reliable as access to fuel for gas cars.

According to the Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center, 4.1% of public charging stations were temporarily unavailable. Additionally, a report from J.D. Power found that 20% of drivers who visited a charging station did not use it due to failing chargers.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm praised President Biden for investing in the national EV charging infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of supporting chargers made in the USA. Granholm believes that this investment will make EV driving cheaper, more reliable, and more convenient.

The Department of Transportation estimates that the funding will cover the repair and replacement costs for all eligible publicly and privately owned charging stations. To be eligible for the federal funding, the charging stations must be available to the public without restrictions.

Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt believes that the investment in the charging network will increase driver demand for EVs. The Biden administration plans to invest billions to build a more reliable and accessible EV charging network, aiming for 1.2 million public chargers by 2030. This plan will require up to $55 billion in public and private capital investment, with the administration expecting significant consumer savings from reduced fuel and maintenance costs.

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FutureCar Staff