Liam Sawyer bought a red Ford Mustang Mach-E. It’s an electric car. Liam liked it because it has cool technology and can go far on a single charge.
He planned a camping trip to Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania. But before leaving, he checked where he could charge his car. He wanted to make sure he could charge it on the way.
He found a charging station in Ohio, near Columbus, about 175 miles from his home in Indianapolis. He stopped there to charge his car. The station has four chargers and is at a Pilot Travel Center. It took about half an hour to charge the car, so while it was charging, Liam got some food and drinks.
Charging his car at that station cost Liam about $20. This charging station is part of a big plan to have more charging stations for electric cars across the country. President Biden started this plan in 2021. He wants to have 500,000 charging stations by 2030.
Electric cars don’t pollute as much as cars that run on gasoline. So, having more charging stations will help more people buy electric cars. Last year, more than a million electric cars were sold in the U.S.
The government is working with different states to build these charging stations. Some private companies, like Walmart, are also helping. However, experts say we need even more charging stations than planned to meet our climate goals.
Having enough charging stations is important because it helps people feel more comfortable buying electric cars. Many people worry about running out of power when driving long distances. Also, some think charging takes too long.
The government’s goal is to have charging stations every 50 miles along highways. Tesla and other companies are also building their own charging stations. They usually put them in places like shopping centers and grocery stores.
Ohio was one of the first states to join this plan. Even though it’s led by a Republican governor, they believe in the future of electric cars. The government helped fund the charging stations, and private companies helped too.
Building these charging stations isn’t easy. It takes time to get permits and approvals. It can also be expensive to upgrade electrical systems. But many people, like Liam, are happy to have more charging stations. They make it easier for him to go on road trips with his electric car. He knows that as more stations are built, charging will become faster and easier.
Also read: Is Biden Enforcing The Elimination Of Gas-Powered Vehicles In The U.S.?