Recently, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) said it had approved ahead of schedule plans to build electric vehicle charging stations in 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, covering about 75,000 miles (120,700 kilometers) of highways.
In November, Congress approved a $1 trillion infrastructure bill that included nearly $5 billion in funding to help states build electric vehicle charging stations along interstate highways over five years. States now have access to more than $1.5 billion to help build electric vehicle charging stations, which will help create a convenient, reliable, and affordable electric vehicle charging network across the country, the USDOT said.
USDOT said that government-funded EV charging stations must use DC Fast Chargers chargers, at least four charging ports, which can charge four vehicles at the same time, and each charging port must reach or exceed 150kW. A charging station is required every 50 miles (80.5 kilometers) on an interstate highway and must be located within 1 mile of the highway.
U.S. federal funds will cover 80 percent of the cost of charging electric vehicles, with private or state funds making up the difference.
The California Air Resources Board voted in August to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles starting in 2035, marking a historic step in the state's fight against climate change.
According to California's new regulations, the sales quota for first-hand zero-emission vehicles will increase year by year. By 2026, the sales quota of zero-emission vehicles must reach 35% of new cars, SUVs and small pickups sold in California, and by 2028 51%, 68% in 2030 and 100% in 2035, the quotas in the regulations will also allow 20% of zero-emission vehicles to be plug-in hybrids.
