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Photo: US Dept. of Transportation
One of the hesitations some consumers have about buying electric vehicles is that there are not enough charging ports.
Addressing those concerns, the Biden administration announced Tuesday $26.2 million in federal grants to build charging ports in Detroit and Ann Arbor. Specifically, Detroit will get $23.4 million of those dollars, with the remainder going to Ann Arbor.
In all, the Biden administration on Tuesday announced $521 million in grants to continue building out electric vehicle charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure across 29 states, eight federally recognized Tribes, and the District of Columbia. In all, those grants are expected to result in 9,200 more EV charging ports.
“Most EV charging will happen at homes, workplaces, or other destinations while vehicles are already parked, providing a safe, reliable, and vastly more convenient way for anyone to fuel,” said Gabe Klein, Executive Director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation in a statement.
"Today’s investments in public community charging fill crucial gaps and provide the foundation for a zero-emission future where everyone can choose to ride or drive electric for greater individual convenience and reduced fueling costs, as well as cleaner air and lower healthcare costs for all Americans.”
Here's how the feds describe the projects in Michigan, two in Detroit and one in Ann Arbor:
Detroit: The City of Detroit will receive nearly $9.2 million to deploy EV charging stations at five locations. Locations will be near Interstate 75 and Interstate 96 including sites in market garages, recreation centers, and casino garages. The project features training programs to prepare the EV workforce and job creation through the IBEW union.
Detroit: The City of Detroit will receive $14.2 million to deploy EV charging stations at 14 key communitybased locations including community parks, public parking lots, and curbside charging in areas where offsite or home charging is not possible. The project will address equity by combining EV infrastructure in locations accessible to large portions of Detroit residents, especially in Justice40 communities, with solutions like EV car sharing so that all Detroiters have access to forms of electrified mobility.
Ann Arbor: The City of Ann Arbor will receive nearly $2.8 million to install 48 publicly available EV chargers across the city and close gaps in EV charging infrastructure, specifically in low-income areas. The project sites will be located at park and rides lots, multi-unit dwellings, and large retails spaces.
