COLUMBUS – Ohio on Wednesday became the first state in the nation to break ground on an electric vehicle charging station built as part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program.
Eventually, there will be charging stations every 50 miles on major roadways, easing what transportation officials refer to as “range anxiety,” the concern over finding convenient charging which has made some motorists reluctant to trade in their gasoline-powered vehicles for electric ones.
“And that should make your ultimate drive more comfortable because you’ll feel safer knowing that you have a place to charge, especially on those longer journeys,” said Preeti Choudhary, executive director of DriveOhio, the smart mobility arm of the Ohio Department of Transportation.
The charging station is being built at the Pilot Travel Center on I-70 at the London exit west of Columbus.
The station’s fast chargers, installed by EVgo, are capable of providing up to 350 kW when charging a single vehicle and, when four vehicles are charging simultaneously, each port will receive up to 175 kW, enough power to charge an EV up to 80% in 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the vehicle’s battery.
“As more Ohioans adopt electric vehicles and the mix of automobiles on the road changes, we must ensure that our infrastructure is ready. Providing more fast chargers that are convenient and reliable ultimately improves customer service for Ohio drivers and bolsters equitable access to the latest transportation technology,” ODOT director Jack Marchbanks said.
While they wait for their vehicle to charge, customers will can access restrooms, food, beverages, and other convenience-store items. The truck stop will have a Wi-Fi network and an overhead canopy to shield drivers from inclement weather.
“When we talked with electric vehicle drivers throughout our public engagement process, we heard that user experience is key. It’s not enough to just add chargers at the required increments – recognizing that drivers will spend a bit of time at these locations, we need to ensure users feel safe and comfortable while charging their vehicles,” Choudhary said.
Construction will begin soon on more than two dozen fast charging stations funded by the NEVI initiative across the state and all of the chargers installed as part of the first round are expected to be operational by the end of 2024.
The second round will include 25 additional locations along interstates, U.S. routes, and state routes. In the coming months,
In total, Ohio will receive $140 million in NEVI funds over the next five years to support the installation of EV charging stations across the state.