The U.S. government has launched a major repair and upgrade program for the country’s electric vehicle (EV) chargers. The first repair project will start in the nation’s capital, Washington, DC.
First introduced in January by the U.S. government’s Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, the Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator (EVC-RAA) offers grants for the repair and replacement of existing, non-operational, publicly accessible Level 2 and DC fast-charging stations of up to 80 percent of eligible project costs.
The nearly $150 million program will replace or repair approximately 4,500 existing electric vehicle charging stations in 20 states, starting with a currently nonfunctional charging station in Washington, DC.
The Washington charger offered a maximum charging capacity of just 50 kW even when operational, but is now being upgraded to have the capacity to charge four electric vehicles (EVs) simultaneously at a minimum of 150 kW each, using either a Combined Charging System 1 or J3400 connector.
“By providing convenient and reliable chargers in the heart of Washington, DC, we will make it easier for residents, tourists and visitors to drive electric vehicles,” said Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office.
“These improved chargers will offer faster speeds, benefit more drivers and are part of a wave of projects that are creating good jobs across the country. Today’s historic groundbreaking is another step forward on our journey to create clean mobility options for all Americans.”
The government-funded EVC-RAA could hopefully serve as a guide for other countries, including Australia, looking to improve the reliability and availability of their publicly accessible electric vehicle charging network.
The Australian state and federal governments announced late last year that they would improve the reliability of the country’s electric vehicle fast-charging network, introducing a standard from early 2024 that requires all government-funded facilities to function at least 98 percent of the time.
“As part of the national electric vehicle strategy, the Government of Australia is working with states and territories to achieve nationwide consistency to give Australians better access to charging infrastructure for cleaner, more cost-effective cars,” a spokesman for Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen said in a statement at the time.
“This includes collaborating on payment methods, accessibility and universal chargers so that electric vehicle drivers can access a convenient, affordable and equitable national charging network.
“Minimum operating standards will help simplify administration, alleviate range anxiety and send a strong signal to charging station operators about basic requirements.”
Testing the reliability of Australia’s publicly accessible electric vehicle charging network could also be an important step in encouraging wider adoption of electric vehicles, as so-called “charger anxiety” gradually replaces “range anxiety” as the new concern for electric vehicle owners.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has covered electric vehicles and clean technology for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.
