The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is waiting to hear back on their proposal to boost electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure in the state.
According to the plan, ODOT is asking for $66 million of federal funding for new charging stations for EVs.
The federal funding comes from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
Jared Schwennesen, Multi-Modal Division Manager at ODOT, said that electric car owners frequently worry about where their next charge will come from, otherwise known as "range anxiety".
"You could have 2-300 miles in between charging locations. And then you don't even know the availability of electricity there," Schwennesen said.
The federal government hopes to fund more charging stations, and alleviate some EV owners range anxiety.
"The federal government has decided to build up the national infrastructure every 50 miles along EV corridors," Schwennesen said. "Where we think the most people are driving currently and where we're expecting them to be going in the future."
Oklahoma is slated to get $66 million over a five year span.
ODOT plans on partnering with private businesses that are already established along EV corridors. Each business chooses how it would build the stations, with the state passing along the federal funding to cover most of the cost.
"We'll allow them to bring a plan to us, we'll provide 80-percent of the funding," Schwennesen said.
Funding that is left over will go towards building charging stations in communities outside the EV corridors.
ODOT submitted its EV Infrastructure plan early this month.
It expects the plan to be reviewed by October before grants being awarded November through February.
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Source: News 9
