Human beings surely boast a ton of super valuable traits, but if we are being honest, nothing can ever beat their tendency to grow under all possible situations. This is because the stated tendency has already enabled us in terms of hitting upon some huge milestones, with technology proving to be a pretty unique member of the stated group. Technology’s anomalous credentials stem, by and large, from its loaded skill-set, which introduced to a reality that we could have never conceived otherwise. Nevertheless, the whole runner has also been, at the same time, predicated upon how we applied those skills in a real-world setting. The latter component was, in fact, what gave the creation a spectrum-wide presence, and consequentially, kickstarted a tech revolution. This revolution, as we would find out, went on to enhance our living experience from each and every direction, but even after going such a long way, it will somehow continue to produce all the right goods. The same has only grown more and more evident on the back of our recent progression, and yet Department of Transportation’s latest decision should do a lot to solidify its traces moving forward.
The US Department of Transportation has officially approved electric vehicle charging station plans for all 50 states, including the likes of Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. This seems like a new, and a pivotal one at that, chapter for the Biden Administration’s intention to cut back on harmful emissions by electrifying the entire automotive industry. Just a few months ago, we saw the government allocating a package worth $5 billion to help states fund EV charging stations for the touted period of five years. Now, with the necessary approvals in the bag, these states should be able to access the initial $1.5 billion for building out the all-new chargers. According to certain reports, the funding will cover upto 80% of the installation costs, whereas the relevant state governments and private entities are expected bear the remaining amount. At the moment, we do not have an exact count on the number of chargers we might see, but going by the available details, the states are mandated to install DC Fast Chargers, with each station required to have at least four ports. Furthermore, EV chargers must be available every 50 miles on interstate highways, and what will be equally important is that they are all within a mile of highways.
“We have approved plans for all 50 States, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia to help ensure that Americans in every part of the country — from the largest cities to the most rural communities — can be positioned to unlock the savings and benefits of electric vehicles,” said Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg.
As massive it sounds, though, the development in question is just a part of something much bigger. To contextualize the statement, we need to look into how the White House, till date, has dedicated $135 billion towards the development of electric vehicles and their supporting infrastructure. The ambition is to build out a network of 500,000 EV charging stations by 2030, and assuming the latest move is executed as planned, it will make for a huge step towards the stated goal.