AUDIO: ADOT EV Charging Funding Approval

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: ADOT EV Charging Funding Approval.
  • Runtime: 1:49.
  • By Autriya Maneshni .
  • Downloadable audio here. (Note: Some web browsers may not support media download)

 

HOST INTRO:

ARIZONA ELECTRIC VEHICLE DRIVERS WILL START TO SEE MORE CHARGING STATIONS ALONG MAJOR FREEWAYS IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

THE STATE IS ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TO HAVE A PLAN TO EXPAND EV CHARGERS APPROVED BY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.
CRONKITE NEWS’ AUTRIYA MANESHNI AW-tree-yuh MAH-nesh-nee) REPORTS ON WHAT THIS APPROVAL MEANS.

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THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WILL HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO 11-MILLION DOLLARS AND WILL GET ANOTHER 16 MILLION IN OCTOBER. THAT MONEY WILL BE USED TO UPGRADE AND DEVELOP EV CHARGING STATIONS ALONG INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS 8, 10, 15, 17 AND 19. THESE HIGHWAYS ARE KNOWN AS THE ALTERNATIVE FUEL CORRIDOR AND ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN 20-PERCENT OF ALL VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED IN ARIZONA.

DIANE BROWN IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE ARIZONA PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP EDUCATION FUND. SHE SAYS THIS PLAN CAN HELP REDUCE RANGE ANXIETY.

“Poll after poll has highlighted that many Arizonans and many Americans are really interested in purchasing an electric vehicle, however, have concerns if they will be able to get from point A to point B.”

ADOT’S PLAN HAS SEVERAL GOALS. BUT THE MAIN ONE IS TO DEVELOP ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS RESILIENT, ACCESSIBLE, EQUITABLE AND RELIABLE.

BROWN SAYS THIS APPROVAL IS A STEP TO MAKE SURE THE STATE GETS THERE.

 

“The ADOT plan really provides an opportunity to make sure that our state is well positioned to reap the benefits of transportation electrification, from an economic in air quality and a public health perspective.”

ADOT WILL BEGIN UPGRADING CURRENT STATIONS NEXT SPRING. NEW STATIONS WILL START BEING INSTALLED THE FOLLOWING YEAR. EACH CHARGING STATION WILL BE NO MORE THAN 50 MILES APART WHENEVER POSSIBLE. THE MONEY COMES THROUGH THE BI-PARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS AND JOBS ACT THAT CONGRESS PASSED LAST YEAR.

AUTRIYA MANESHNI, CRONKITE NEWS. ====