The main component of the plan will be a network of alternative fuel corridors that crisscoss the state. The corridors will include strategically placed charging sites along federal and state highways to accommodate the anticipated rise in electric vehicle use.
The Ohio Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan is necessary for the state to snag a portion of the $5 billion set aside by the infrastructure bill for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, which also includes another $2.5 billion in discretionary grants to be doled out later. The goal is to install 500,000 electric vehicle chargers across the country by 2030.
A series of public meetings will be held across the state in July on Ohio’s draft deployment plan before it will be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration by Aug. 1 with final approval by Sept. 30 of this year.
The draft plan is publicly available. Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer took a look and sought additional explanation from Luke Stedke, managing director for communications and policy at DriveOhio, the smart technology arm of the Ohio Department of Transportation. This is what we learned.
What highways in Ohio will be alternative fuel corridors?
The corridors will extend along 1,874 miles of federal and state highways in Ohio. They include interstates 270, 275, 675, 680, 70, 71, 75, 76, 77, 80 and 90. They also include Ohio routes 13, 23, 30 and 33.
How many charging sites will there be along the corridors?
There are already 12 charging sites in place that meet the federal requirement of at least four DC fast chargers of 150 kilowatts each. The first two phases of the deployment plan will add 30 more sites, each with a minimum of four chargers, Stedke said.
Charging sites along the corridors are required to be located every 50 miles and within 1 mile of an exit. Each of the DC fast chargers will provide about 60-80 miles per 20-minute session.
When will installation of the new charging sites take place?
The draft plan is expected to be approved by Sept. 30 of this year after which it will likely take a few years to build out the 30 charging sites.
Timing could be affected by supply chain issues and the fact that all 50 states will be building out their alternative fuel corridors at the same time. Funding runs through 2026.
“Market economics plays a role, too,” Stedke said.
How were the locations of the alternative fuel corridors chosen?
Mostly in consultation with local non-government organizations. In Northeast Ohio that would include the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency and in the Youngstown area the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments.
DriveOhio also conducted a siting study in 2020 and produced a freight electrification report in 2021 to help determine where additional charging stations should be located.
Will federal dollars pay for other charging sites?
Yes. Once the alternative fuel corridors are built out, any remaining money from Ohio’s $100 million allocation can be used to install charging sites in public areas such as state parks, tourist destinations and other roadways that are currently not part of the proposed alternative fuel corridor network.
Two other federal pots of funding totaling $2.5 billion will become available to states in the fourth quarter of this year. They include $1.25 billion for corridor-based sites and another $1.25 billion for community charging projects.
Who will build and own the corridor charging sites?
Third-party operators will own and operate the charging sites. They could be retail outlets such as 7-Eleven, Sheetz or Walmart, Stedke said, or charging station manufacturers could partner with property owners. The state will send out requests for proposal and award charging sites based on scored responses. It will be the responsibility of the winning bidder to install the stations.
How much will it cost to build a federally compliant charging site?
It’s estimated that each site will cost between $700,000 to $1 million depending on the location, Stedke said.
Will the charging stations operate using credit cards or will there be special EV charging cards?
The federal government has said that there will be guidance as to payment method but it has yet to be provided.
What consideration was given to making sure economically distressed areas of the state are adequately served with charging stations?
The program will abide by the federal “Justice40 Initiative,” which stipulates that 40% of the benefit from any federal investment related to clean energy or to climate go to disadvantaged communities.
What about other investments in charging stations?
Investment in EV infrastructure can come from many sources, not just the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program.
State and local governments, public utilities, non-profit organizations and private indusry could all be involved in installing or incentivizing the installation of EV charge infrastructure, whether its DC fast chargers or so-called “Level 2″ chargers that take longer to juice up a vehicle.,
Where does Ohio stand when it comes to electric vehicle use?
Ohio is not a leader in electric vehicle use, in part because unlike some other states it does not require that a percentage of vehicles sold in the state be electric-powered.
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