By Ted Caddell

The federal government will create 48 “charging corridors” across nearly 25,000 miles of interstate highways in 35 states and D.C. — the beginning of what it hopes will become a nationwide web of stations that will eliminate “range anxiety” and spark broader acceptance of electric vehicles.

Under the plan announced last week by the White House, EV owners will be able to find charging stations every 50 miles on designated highways. Most of the charging stations are to be installed by the end of 2017. The Department of Energy is offering $4.5 billion in loan guarantees to aid financing for multi-outlet, commercial-scale charging stations.

The electrification of transportation could provide a jolt to power producers dismayed by flat load growth. But there are only about 520,000 EVs on the road today — 0.2% of the 250 million vehicles in the U.S. fleet — little more than half of the 1 million plug-in EVs target President Obama set eight years ago for 2015.

Sales of EVs have been hampered by low gasoline prices, high battery prices and limited range and charging infrastructure. U.S. EV sales declined 5% in 2015 over 2014 but increased 19% in the first half of 2016 over the year before, according to FleetCarma.

According to the Energy Department, there are about 14,600 public charging stations for plug-in vehicles, with 37,000 charging outlets, now in the U.S.

Charging Speed

Charging speed also is a challenge. While the new network would make it possible to drive coast to coast, there could be a lot of waiting along the way. Depending on the vehicle and charger type, it can take between three and six hours to fully recharge a plug-in EV.

The Energy Department is working with the National Laboratories and others on a study expected by the end of the year on developing direct-current chargers capable of 350 kW, which could provide a 200-mile charge in less than 10 minutes.

Nissan says its LEAF can restore up to 80% of its charge in 30 minutes with a “fast charger,” but there are only 1,840 of them nationwide. Tesla Motors’ Model S and Model X can charge to a 170-mile range in 30 minutes using a 120-kW “supercharger” available at 734 stations.

Increasing the Range

Vehicle manufacturers also are responding to the desire for more range. The Chevrolet Bolt EV, expected to be released later this year at less than $30,000 (net of federal tax credits), will run for more than 200 miles on a full charge. Tesla’s Model 3, due in late 2017, also will have a range of at least 200 miles.

The Obama administration also is attempting to help make technological advances to reduce battery costs, which exceeded $500/kWh in 2012.

Bloomberg New Energy Finance says lithium-ion battery costs have dropped 65% since 2010, falling to $350/kWh last year. It issued a study in February predicting costs will drop below $120/kWh by 2030.

It projects that worldwide EV sales will hit 41 million by 2040, representing 35% of new light duty vehicle sales. EVs would comprise a quarter of the cars on the road, consuming 2,700 TWh of electricity — equal to 11% of global electricity demand in 2015.

Partners

A public-private partnership of 28 states, utility companies, vehicle manufacturers — including BMW, Nissan and General Motors — and other organizations have agreed to accelerate the installation of chargers and other infrastructure needed. Among the utilities signing on to the project are Pacific Gas and Electric, Ameren Missouri, Portland General Electric, Public Service Company of New Mexico, Eversource Energy and Southern California Edison.

Car manufacturers and utilities will accelerate installation and hookup of charging stations throughout the U.S. Vehicle manufacturers are redoubling production commitments and working to coordinate installation and help fund some of the charging stations. Some of the companies have vowed to increase access to EV stations for their employees.

State and local governments are also making additional commitments to plug-in vehicles. Thursday’s announcement included the details of 24 state and local government plans to purchase 2,500 new EVs in 2017. Los Angeles, for instance, is spending $22.5 million on EV charging stations by June 2018, with 500 additional public EV vehicle charging stations scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017, for a total of 1,500.

Alternative Fuels

The Department of Transportation also is seeking nominations from state and local officials in the creation of alternative fuel corridors for vehicles powered by hydrogen, propane and natural gas. A Federal Highway Administration website offers maps of current EV and alternative fuel infrastructure.

“Alternative fuels and electric vehicles will play an integral part in the future of America’s transportation system,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said. “We have a duty to help drivers identify routes that will help them refuel and recharge those vehicles and designating these corridors on our highways is a first step.”

“Working together with the private sector, these actions can help to combat climate change, increase access to clean energy technologies and reduce our dependence on oil. Expanding the infrastructure that supports plug-in and fuel cell vehicles is key to achieving these national energy and national security imperatives,” said Genevieve Cullen, president of the Electric Drive Transportation Association.

‘Tipping Point’

Jim Sholler, 52, who drives about 40 miles from his home in Hillsborough, N.C., to his financial services job in Raleigh, has just reserved a Tesla. “First of all, it’s a much cleaner solution [to greenhouse gas emissions]. You can’t tell me that a large power plant is less clean than a six-cylinder car,” Sholler said in an interview Sunday after learning the details of the government plan.

He said his “tipping point” came when he realized that the EV charging stations at his work were always in use. “And I realized I saw more and more charging stations.”

Sholler noted that the worry that either the vehicle’s range or the dearth of charging stations available on long trips is what holds many prospective owners back.

But improving battery technology — the latest Tesla model boasts a range of 300 miles on a charge, versus the typical range of the first generation of production plug-in electric cars of about 100 miles — and an expanding system of EV charging stations helped him to finally decide to order an electric car.

“Range anxiety is gone,” he said.