More than 50 utilities across the nation have teamed up to speed up the construction of electric vehicle charging stations along the nation’s highways. The newly-formed National Electric Highway Coalition was announced today by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), an association of investor-owned power companies.
Each utility that’s a member of the coalition must commit “in good faith” to create an EV fast charging network across its service territory “using any approach they see fit” by 2023. The EEI estimates the US will need more than 100,000 fast charging ports by 2030 to accommodate the 22 million electric vehicles expected on American roads.
With 500,000 fast chargers planned by 2030, the Biden administration has made EV charging infrastructure a key part of its infrastructure plans. Many utilities need approval from regulators before they can participate, but the EEI says more than 50 have already received approval for $3 billion worth of EV-related projects.