On Friday, the Oregon Department of Transportation announced it would commit $100 million to Oregon’s public electric vehicle charging network over the next five years.
The charging network will be placed across several major road corridors and increase access to electric vehicle charging stations in communities throughout the state.
Amanda Pietz, administrator for ODOT’s Policy, Data & Analysis Division, said more EV charging infrastructure will help motivate Oregonians to choose an EV for their next car, SUV, or bicycle.
“We know that range anxiety is a big factor in people’s reluctance to make the switch to electric vehicles, especially in more rural parts of the state,” said Pietz. “This investment will build Oregonians’ confidence that an EV can fit into their life and get them where they need to go.”
The funding, officials said, will come from a mix of federal and state sources and was approved by the Oregon Transportation Commission at their March 30 meeting.
About two-thirds of the funding – $52 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, plus a required 20 percent match from the state – will be spent on EV charging infrastructure along federally designated “Alternative Fuel Corridors,” Interstates 5,84, 82, and U.S. 26, 101, 20 and 97. The ODOT said it will nominate more corridors for federal approval over the next five years.
The remainder of the money – $36 million – will be used to close EV infrastructure gaps beyond those corridors, placing charging sites in rural and urban areas, underserved communities, and apartment complexes. The move would allow more Oregonians to charge their vehicles at home, at work, and at play.