Iowa receives $51.4 million for EV charging infrastructure

The state of Iowa is receiving $51.4 million over five years from the federal government to construct new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Part of a national funding plan totaling more than $1.5 billion and covering 75,000 miles of highway, the National Vehicle Infrastructure Formula (NEVI) plan looks to transition the country toward electric vehicles, […]

The state of Iowa is receiving $51.4 million over five years from the federal government to construct new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Part of a national funding plan totaling more than $1.5 billion and covering 75,000 miles of highway, the National Vehicle Infrastructure Formula (NEVI) plan looks to transition the country toward electric vehicles, in part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. NEVI was created following the passage of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The initial focus of NEVI is to build out minimum standards in states on highways designated as Alternative Fuel Corridors, said Stuart Anderson, director of the transportation development division at the Iowa Department of Transportation. “In Iowa, that’s basically our major interstate system. All of I-80, I-29, I-35, and more related to your area, all of the I-380 corridor,” he told the CBJ. “There needs to be fast-charging infrastructure at least every 50 miles on those corridors within one mile of an interstate exit, with each site having at least four ports that can charge at 150 kilowatts or higher.” Mr. Anderson believes it will take “two to three years” of funding to fully build out minimum charging infrastructure requirements, before funds will then be applied to other areas of the state. How quickly this process will begin, he notes, is a little uncertain. “We have a fair amount of work to do to get the program up and running,” he said. “There’s also a question of how quickly the industry can produce this charging infrastructure equipment in a way that’s compliant with federal laws and regulations.”

As of April, there were approximately 9,400 electric vehicles in Iowa, less than 1% of the total registered vehicles in the state. But with more manufacturers being pushed to transition from gas to electric energy, that number is expected to climb from 225,000-450,000 EV’s owned by Iowans by 2040 – representing around 7-13% adoption levels. “The main purpose of this NEVI program is to get some charging infrastructure out there to consistent levels so the public feels confident in buying electric vehicles and not having range anxiety in longer trips.” Fast-charging stations will take anywhere from 15-45 minutes to charge a car, although the range will vary based on type of charger and battery model. It’s expected that these EV charging stations will mainly be used for long-range travels and is not necessary for most daily commutes. Interstate rest areas will not have charging stations due to federal law not permitting retail operations at rest areas, Mr. Anderson said. Private industry will be able to apply for funds as early as this winter. All charging stations will be open 24 hours a day, have shelter, restroom facilities and access to food and beverages. The full IA NEVI Deployment Plan, which shows all of Iowa's EV charging plans, can be found online. In April, Iowa City Transit was announced as Most Collaborative by the Federal Transit Administration after rolling out a fleet of four electric buses earlier this year.