Joe Biden pledges £400million to install 9,200 electric car chargers - 'America leads the EV revolution!'

President Joe Biden and an electric vehicle charger

The funding for the EV chargers will be used across 29 states

PA
Felix Reeves

By Felix Reeves


Published: 30/08/2024

- 15:58

Updated: 30/08/2024

- 15:59

There are more than 192,000 chargers across the United States

The Biden-Harris Administration is committing $521million (£396million) in grants to continue boosting the nation's electric vehicle infrastructure.

New data from the US Federal Highway Administration found that the number of publicly available electric car chargers has doubled since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration.


The funding will be used to deploy more than 9,200 electric vehicle charging points across 29 states, eight Federally Recognised Tribes, and Washington DC.

There are more than 192,000 publicly available electric vehicle chargers across the United States, with 1,000 new chargers being added each week.

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Electric vehicle chargers

The funding should boost installations by almost 10,000 chargers across the US

REUTERS

In comparison, Zapmap data shows that there are 66,779 chargers across the UK, although the Government is aiming to have 300,000 publicly available devices by the end of the decade.

The US investment will aim to build more chargers along the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy to help companies and truck owners switch to electric.

Pete Buttigieg, United States Transportation Secretary, said the actions completed by President Biden and Vice President Harris were helping motorists make the transition to electric vehicles.

The former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, said: "The Biden-Harris Administration has taken action to ensure that America leads the EV revolution, and the historic infrastructure package includes resources to support a nationwide EV charger network so that all drivers have an accessible, reliable, and convenient way to charge their vehicles.

"The awards that we’re announcing today will build on this important work and help ensure that the cost savings, health and climate benefits, and jobs of the EV future are secured for Americans across the country.”

The City of Atlanta will receive $11.8million (£8.9million) to install a rapid charging hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport with 50 DC fast chargers.

Similarly, the City of Milwaukee will be boosted by $15million (£11.4million) in funding to install chargers at 53 different sites in areas across the city where there is a lack of devices.

Polly Trottenberg, US Transportation Deputy Secretary, added: "As we build out the EV charging network on our highways, we are also investing in local communities, rural, urban and tribal alike.

"Today’s grants are a critical part of ensuring every American can find a charger as easily as a gas station, which will decrease pollution from our roadways, lower costs for families, and help people get to where they need to go efficiently."

The move will also be part of President Biden's Justice40 Initiative which aims for 40 per cent of the overall benefits of federal investments to flow to disadvantaged communities.

Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, said the charging boost would help drivers make the transition for anyone hesitant about ditching fuel.

He added: "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."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

A ChargePlace Scotland EV charger

There are around 67,000 chargers across the UK

PA

White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi said: "Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s leadership, we are accelerating private investment to do just that and, at the same time, increasing our capacity to manufacture these technologies in the United States.

"Today’s announcement helps us move faster to win the future — good jobs, clean air, and a robust manufacturing economy that supports a growing middle class."

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