MassDOT announced a five-year, $63 million plan to install EV charging stations no more than 50 miles apart in an effort to reduce “range anxiety” and encourage the transition from fossil-fueled vehicles to carbon-neutral vehicles.
The project is supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula (NEVI) Program.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, NEVI provides money to states “to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and to establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access and reliability.”
Chris Aiello, senior counsel for the state Department of Transportation’s Climate Initiative, shared the need for increased EV charging stations in the Bay State as part of a nationwide initiative to combat climate change during a MassDOT Conference on Wednesday.
Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts, accounting for 37%, including light-duty passenger vehicles, said Aiello.