As part of the vast plan to modernize American infrastructures from an ecological perspective, 5 billion dollars will be devoted to setting up a national electric vehicle charging network over 5 years. The Biden administration detailed its plan February 10.
America needs to catch up on electric
The motherland of Elon Musk’s Tesla is lagging behind in electric vehicles, overtaken by Europe, and especially China. The Biden administration wants to regain leadership in this up-and-coming sector, as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a typically American tone, “ A century ago, America ushered in the modern age of the automobile; now America must lead the electric vehicle revolution “.
How is the development of the digital euro progressing?
The bipartisan law on the modernization of American infrastructures signed in November by Joe Biden provides for an envelope of 7.5 billion. It must make it possible to achieve the president’s commitment to the sector, that half of the vehicles sold in 2030 be electric or hybrid.
The first part of the plan, $5 billion, is to build a nationwide charging network forhalf a million stations by 2030, one within an 80km radius. Roads, designated alternative fuel corridors, mainly interstate axes will benefit.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm praised the US government’s action, ” We’re modernizing America’s national highway system so drivers in towns and cities, towns and rural communities can enjoy the benefits of electric driving “.
A charging network, but which one?
States will have to file deployment cases with a new federal agency, the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation by Aug. 1. The plans retained by the Federal Highway Administration will be unveiled on September 30. 615 million dollars will be distributed in the first year.
The selected files will be scrutinized closely, especially for the quality of the chargers. The Verge notes that fast chargers, able to convince American drivers to go electric can be 50 to 100 times more expensive than more traditional, but less efficient chargers. The question will be important, is it better to deploy a dense charging network quickly, or a less extensive but more efficient network? Response in fall 2022.