US proposes new standards for fast electric vehicle charging projects – EQ Mag Pro
The White House announced that it will take new steps to meet its goal of having national network of 500,000 electric vehicle chargers along America’s highways and in communities as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
In order to make charging electric vehicles (EVs) convenient, reliable, and affordable for all American citizens, the Department of Transportation is proposing new standards in partnership with the Department of Energy.
Exigent for a better tomorrow
Large-scale conflicts across the world, such as the Russia-Ukraine one, has made oil prices volatile. Combined with the fact that climate change is disrupting the way people live and work, the need for EVs to replace vehicles running on internal combustion engines is immediate and urgent. Adoption of EVs comes with its share of problems, however. Not all EV chargers offer the same reliability or universality. There is also a roadblock in the form of a lack of common payment methods.
EVs then offer cleaner air, lower running costs, as well as new growth opportunities, particularly in steel and energy sectors that promises to provide an impetus to new, high-paying jobs.
Key proposals
- Secured historic investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – USD 7.5 billion for EV charging infrastructure and more than USD 7 billion for the critical minerals supply chains necessary for batteries, components, materials, and recycling.
- United automakers and autoworkers around an ambitious target for 50% of new vehicles sold in 2030 to be electric.
- Triggered a string of investment commitments of over $100 billion from private companies to make more EVs and their parts in America, create jobs for our autoworkers, and strengthen our domestic supply chains.
- Activated the purchasing power of the federal government to procure 100% zero-emission light-duty vehicles by 2027 and all vehicles by 2035.
- Finalized the strongest passenger vehicle emissions and fuel economy standards in history.
Important takeaways
A Joint Office of Energy and Transportation has been formed to to work hand-in-hand with states, industry leaders, manufacturers, and other stakeholders to meet the outlined goals. The announced steps are expected to lower operating costs, reduce maintenance needs, and improve performance. Besides, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing a fleet of actions from nine federal agencies across the charging ecosystem to complement the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program – creating good-paying jobs in the U.S., reducing emissions, and putting it on the path to realize net zero by 2050.
Source: PTI
