According to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), the state saw sold growth in electric vehicle (EV) ownership – about 1,000 per month – making it second in the nation for new EVs sold.
The state is poised for more EV success this year, the ODOT said. The department said more than 50,000 EVs were registered as of May 2022, a number that increased to about 57,700 as of September. Monthly sales of EVs rose steadily throughout the year, the department said.
The departments said that with the increase in sales came upgrades in the EV charging infrastructure. In May, contractors completed ODOT-funded upgrades to the state’s share of the West Coast Electric Highway. This year, the department said, three new stations will bring the total DC fast charger stations to 480. About 1,700 Public Level 2 charging stations are available statewide. On average, the department said, public EV charging infrastructure has grown about 30 percent per year over the past five years.
The state has committed $100 million over the next five years to build out EV charging infrastructure in locations and regions that have seen less private investment, like multifamily homes, rural areas, and underserved communities. A combination of federal and state funding will build more chargers along the state’s highways and interstates, the department said, while supporting Level 2 charging projects in communities throughout the state.
New regulations in Oregon will require all new cars, trucks, and SUVs sold in the state to be zero emission by 2035.