Officials from the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) recently announced that the state will install 15 new electric vehicle charging stations with fast charging capacity by the end of 2024.
UDOT said the chargers will be along Utah's interstates, US-6 and US-191.
“The future is coming, and these 15 new fast charging sites will ensure Utah will be ready for it,” UDOT Executive Director Carlos Braceras said in a statement. “Building out the statewide charging network really opens the door to let Utahns choose to travel where they want, when they want, in the way they want.”
According to UDOT, the number of electric vehicles in Utah has grown by an average of 48% year over year since 2015.
The chargers will be owned and operated by private companies and have 24/7 availability to the public.
"Creating a charging network of this magnitude requires a team effort between the federal government, the state of Utah and private businesses," a UDOT press release stated. "Utah is receiving about $36 million in federal funding, and combined with a minimum 20% private match, the program is expected to invest a total of $43 million."In the first phase of the program, about $17.5 million will be invested in providing drivers with access to electric vehicle charging every 50 miles along Utah's interstates.
Officials said no state taxpayer dollars will be used in this phase, as UDOT is entering into public-private partnerships to implement the project.
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Source: 2KUTV News
