Federal funds help Oklahoma companies put EV charging stations every 50 miles along interstates
ODOT said they expect these charging stations to be built throughout the next 12-18 months The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has awarded contracts to three companies, Tesla, Love's Travel Stop and Francis Energy, $8.7 million in federal funds to build new EV charging stations. The funds will provide $7.3 million in matching funds for a total investment of around $16 million. The contracts aim to alleviate some range anxiety electric car owners might feel if their vehicles run out of juice and there aren't any nearby charging stations nearby. The companies, not the state, will also be responsible for maintenance. No state funds are being used, but some funds will be withheld if they meet certain requirements over the next five years.
Published : 4 weeks ago by https://www.facebook.com/zach.rael.12, Zach Rael in Auto
ODOT said they expect these charging stations to be built throughout the next 12-18 months
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation awarded three companies big contracts to add more electric vehicle charging stations to Oklahoma interstates. | MORE | Oklahoma businesses to get more EV charging stations thanks to federal fundsTesla, Love's Travel Stop and Francis Energy will receive $8.7 million in federal funds to build new EV charging stations. Those companies will provide $7.3 million in matching funds for a total investment of around $16 million. The goal of the contracts was to alleviate some range anxiety electric car owners might experience if their vehicles run out of juice and there aren't any charging stations nearby. "This will be huge for the national network to relieve some of that range anxiety," said Jared Schwennesen with ODOT. ODOT said the funds would bring one charging station every 50 miles along Interstate 35, 40 and 44. "This will give them the guarantee that every 50 miles they know there is going to be charging," Schwennesen said. No state funds are being used. State officials were just the administrators of the federal money. Some of those funds are also being withheld and will be paid out to the companies if they meet certain requirements over the next five years. One of those requirements includes having a 97% uptime and meeting certain reporting requirements. "Hopefully have a better reliability, once you show up at the station, that they are not all broke, or at least provide at least 150 charging," Schwennesen said. ODOT said they expect these charging stations to be built throughout the next 12-18 months. The companies, not the state, will also be responsible for maintenance. Top Headlines Monday brought tornado warning, severe storms to Oklahoma Women's NCAA Tournament Elite Eight recap Oklahoma correctional officer taken to hospital after being stabbed by inmate multiple times, ODOC says Oklahoma Supreme Court denies petition to rehear constitutionality of SQ 832 Neighbors react to eviction that ended with 1 dead after man set himself on fire