A Democratic senator criticized the slow progress of a $5 billion U.S. government program to set up electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Only seven charging stations are running so far, which he called “pathetic.” The program aims to expand EV charging to support the use of electric vehicles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, part of the Biden Administration’s plans.
According to Shailen Bhatt, who leads the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), these seven stations have only a few dozen charging ports altogether. Senator Jeff Merkley expressed disappointment, saying it’s been three years since the program started and progress is too slow. He also pointed out that federal highway rules currently don’t allow charging stations at rest stops, which he sees as a problem.
Bhatt admitted to frustration with the slow rollout, mentioning that states are struggling with various programs. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) committee chair Tom Carper suggested holding a hearing to address the delays and ensure that the allocated federal funds are used properly.
Earlier, Republican lawmakers also raised concerns about the slow implementation of the EV program, noting little progress. The White House aims to establish a nationwide network of 500,000 charging ports, including high-speed ones placed no more than 50 miles apart on busy highways.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm mentioned that 27 states have requested to build charging stations commercially, and she expects around 1,000 stations to be operational by the end of the year. She noted that some areas where stations will be set up lack electricity, making it challenging.
As of December, the U.S. had 183,000 public charging ports, and since the Biden administration began, the number of fast-charging ports has increased by 90%, according to Bhatt. He expressed confidence in reaching the goal of 500,000 charging ports nationwide.
