Texas Is Planning Charging Stations Along Interstates

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• Hyundai auto brand is working with the state of Texas to build a network of EV charging stations across the state.
• The start of this construction will begin January 2023 and will take approximately 5 years according to their plan.
• Electric Vehicles are for sale at Emond Hyundai in Oklahoma.

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Picture this: you recently bought your first electric car and are taking it on a road trip. You, being a new EV owner, you misjudge how far you’re able to make it and wind up stuck on the side of the road–ruining the road trip vibe AND you have to pay a towing bill. Yikes! Well, Texas has put into motion a solution for this avoidable inconvenience. Making long distance travel easier for a new generation of cars, Texas plans to be able to support 1 million electric vehicles by adding dozens of electric vehicle charging stations throughout the state. At Edmond Hyundai we find this innovative solution to be the answer to this problem in many states, including here in Edmond, Oklahoma. Keep reading to get a deeper understanding of this plan!

Texas EV Charging Stations Plan

Texas, being the second largest state in America comes with a big environmental responsibility, and they are stepping up to the plate! The Texas Department of transportation has laid out a five-year plan to build a network of charging stations across the state. They plan to start with main corridors and interstate highways, then move to building these stations in rural areas. The main goal is to place charging stations every 50 miles along most non-business interstate routes. In other areas of Texas, they plan to have electric charging stations every 70 miles. They will be equipped with multiple stalls for ease of use. They will also be high powered at 150kW, which charges most electric vehicles from 10% to 80% in around just 30 minutes. Browse a book or catch up on your favorite TV show, but you won’t have to stay for long!

The Federal Infrastructure and Jobs Act

Nationally, The Federal Infrastructure and Jobs Act passed last year has a goal of creating a network of over 500,000 easy to use yet reliable electric vehicle charging stations by 2023. Oklahoma’s time is coming soon! Texas’ funding is coming from this act, which is allocating $408 million to the state over the 5 year plan period to expand its number of charging stations throughout the state. However, no funds from the state budget will be used. Additionally from the infrastructure act, Texas is estimated to receive around 35.44 billion over the same five years for bridges, roads, ports, pipes, and broadband access with some additional projects. 

As of May 31, 2022, there were only 129,0010 electric vehicles in Texas according to the TDT report. That means less than 1% of vehicles in Texas are electric. There’s always room to grow! However, experts are looking at the rapid buying rates and meeting the demand for electric vehicles on the road. Since 2020, the total number of electric vehicles has almost tripled as more and more people buy into the technology. 

Start of Construction in January 2023

Texas’ governor Greg Abbott is gung-ho about implementing these electric charging stations. He stresses their importance, “Texas’ sheer volume of roadway miles leaves ample opportunity for EV charging deployment. The plan should ensure that every Texan can access the infrastructure they need to charge an EV,” Abbott wrote. “Additionally, I direct TxDOT and stakeholders to include in the plan a way for Texans to easily get from Beaumont to El Paso and Texline to Brownsville in an EV–with a focus on rural placement and connectivity.” Texas is currently gathering public comments and concerns, then the plan will be finalized by Aug 1, 2022 to the Federal Highway Administration. Officials will then create contracts for construction beginning in January 2023. 

• First year: Texas will add 48 new charging locations to meet the 50-mile FHWA requirement. There are already 27 existing locations and 26 more locations that will be possible by a separate grant. The state will have about 101 electric vehicle charging stations by 2024!
• Second year: Texas will be focusing on building charging stations in small urban areas, rural counties, and other areas advised by metropolitan planning organizations. 
• Third through fifth year: These years of implementation will continue to focus on building out charging networks in smaller and rural areas. They have a lot of ground to cover! Since this endeavor will be using more power and electricity, stations could come with a combination of solar and battery equipment to level out power supplies. 

Electric Vehicles Coming Soon to Edmond Hyundai

At Edmond Hyundai we are excited for the future of electric vehicles nationwide, and of course, in Oklahoma! It’s clear that electric vehicle sales are picking up in America, so why not pick yours out at Edmond Hyundai! We have a large variety of new and used vehicles in stock just waiting to go home with you. Feel free to schedule a test drive, learn more about the Edmond Hyundai Promise, our financial programs, and more. Check out our full new and used car inventory online, give us a call, or visit us in person! We look forward to hearing from you and to learn your opinion on the EV charging stations on interstates.

Phone

405-696-4932

Address

14137 N. Broadway Ext.

Oklahoma City, OK 73013

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