Ohio Announces New EV Charging Stations
Ohio is making a significant move to support electric vehicle (EV) drivers. Governor Mike DeWine recently revealed plans for 27 new EV charging stations along Ohio’s interstates. This makes Ohio the first state in the country to announce specific charging station locations as part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program.
Ohio’s electric vehicle charging station plan.
Governor DeWine highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating, “As more Ohioans purchase EVs, this statewide network of chargers will ensure that our transportation infrastructure is prepared to accommodate these drivers, as well as visitors”.
The state is allocating over $18 million in NEVI funds for the new fast-charging stations. These funds will be matched by nearly $6 million from private companies involved in installing and operating the stations. These include Pilot Travel Centers, TH Midwest, Francis Energy, Meijer Stores, EVgo Services, ChargeNet Stations, and Equilon/Shell.
The selected sites include existing travel centers, grocery stores, retail shops, a hotel, a restaurant, and a bank.
The new charging stations will be placed every 50 miles along seven of Ohio’s major interstate corridors: I-70, I-71, I-74, I-75, I-76, I-77, and I-90. The stations will be located no more than a mile from the interstate and will offer at least four charger ports with 150 kilowatts for each port.
The charging stations will be accessible 24/7 and offer convenient access to food, beverages, and restrooms.
Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted added that these charging stations are critical for adapting infrastructure to the changing transportation landscape and improving services for both Ohio residents and businesses. The state’s proactive approach also gave it an advantage in securing equipment and specialized technicians for the project.
Ohio was the first state in the nation to issue a request for EV charging station proposals last year. ODOT will issue another request for proposals this fall to install an additional 16 charging stations along Ohio’s major U.S. and state routes. DriveOhio, a division of ODOT, will oversee the operation of the new charging stations, which are projected to be operational next year.
Currently, Ohio has about 53,000 registered electric vehicles, a number expected to grow significantly in the coming years. Ohio will receive a total of $140 million in NEVI funds over the next five years to support the installation of EV charging stations across the state. The remaining funds will be used to install more stations in other areas, once the interstate, state, and U.S. route charging stations are complete.
