The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) is growing its electric vehicle (EV) charging station network thanks to federal funding. The move comes after the recent approval of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program (NEVI), which allows Iowa to begin implementing the plan by accessing the federal NEVI formula funding.
The Hawkeye State hopes this will bring more EV drivers to the region and make it easier for Iowa residents to choose an EV when purchasing a new car or truck.
Interest in making the switch to EVs is booming in Iowa. As of June 2023, more than 12,800 EVs and plug-in hybrids were registered in the state. Iowa’s central location in the United States makes it a critical crossroads for cross-country commerce and travel, necessitating a swift move to accommodate EVs from all corners of America. Some drivers have experienced charging anxiety when crossing the state.
Photo Courtesy Iowa Department of Transportation
“You get a little bit of anxiety because you don’t know if you’re going to be able to reach it,” Jorge Gomez, an EV driver charging at a station in Des Moines, told WHO 13. “Especially if you go a little bit faster, you drain the battery a little more. So, sometimes you get that anxiety; are you going to be able to reach my next destination with enough charge to get there.”
The state wants to make sure drivers like Gomez will always be near a charging station.
Most stations will be added along designated alternative fuel corridors, routes highlighted by the federal government that allow for inter-city, regional, and national travel using low-emission vehicles.
Iowa currently has “four alternative fuel corridors”: Interstates 29, 35, 80, and 380.
Funding can also be used on non-designated routes. The state is currently accepting applications for the funding’s use — they are due by March 13. All projects must promote affordable and equitable EV charging options for residential, commercial, and public use, as well as improve the customer experience, including charging times.
Photo Courtesy Zaptec
“Releasing this funding opportunity is a key milestone for Iowa DOT,” Garrett Pedersen, Iowa DOT Systems Planning Bureau director, said in a news release. “This is a critical step towards awarding money and getting additional electric vehicle chargers in the ground.”
According to Iowa DOT, while investment in EV charging infrastructure is important to the future, Iowa’s transportation system must continue supporting all types of vehicles and their fuel needs during the transition to cleaner energy options. The state is considered a leader in renewable energy, as well as ethanol and biodiesel production, and is working hard to build renewable fuel infrastructure. Local communities have joined forces with utilities and private companies to add EV infrastructure throughout the state.
Photo Courtesy Iowa Department of TransportationIowa’s Electric Vehicle Deployment Plan is part of an effort to create a national EV charging network along major transportation corridors. The federal funding the state received is not just for Iowa.
The NEVI Formula Program will be provided to all 50 states to deploy EV charging infrastructure strategically.
The program offers up to $7.5 billion to ensure the entire federal interstate system has an interconnected charging station network.
