Pete Buttigieg's $100 million initiative to improve electric vehicle charging infrastructure

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. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg acknowledged the challenges he has faced when trying to charge his own vehicle in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

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 emphasized that this funding is a step towards creating a convenient and reliable charging network across the country.

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

Recent data from the Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center revealed that 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 issues with the chargers.

Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm commended President Biden for investing in the national EV charging infrastructure, emphasizing 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 of 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 electric vehicles.

The Biden administration has ambitious plans to build a more reliable and accessible EV charging network with 1.2 million public chargers by 2030. This plan will require up to $55 billion in public and private capital investment and is expected to generate significant consumer savings from reduced fuel and maintenance costs.

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FutureCar Staff