Durham wins $4.8 million federal grant for high-speed EV charging stations
The city of Durham has won a $4.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to add 20 new high-speed charging stations for electric vehicles.
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U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the grant is part of a national push to build what they’re calling "alternative fuel corridors" for supply-chain trucks as well as personal vehicles. He said the Biden administration wants half the cars and trucks on the roads to be electric by 2030 – and that’s going to require a lot more chargers in a lot more places.
“The truth is we couldn't run all of those vehicles of tomorrow on today's grid and today's charging network,” Buttigieg said. “We've got to make sure that the infrastructure is there, the same way we've got to make sure the roads and bridges are in good shape.”
Buttigieg said the 20 new high-speed charging stations funded by the federal grant aren’t just for travelers passing through. He hopes they’ll also encourage nearby residents to make the switch to an electric vehicle.
“Not everybody has a garage and a plug-in,” he said. “If you don't have a single-family home, you need a charging solution. That's part of what we're trying to make sure we're filling in the gaps on with this program.”
Durham is a good site for high-speed chargers, Buttigieg said, because several major highways come within a few miles of each other, so the chargers can serve travelers along more than one corridor.
Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams says it’s a big win for his city.
“I just got a call from Secretary Pete Buttigieg on my personal cell phone congratulating me,” Williams said. “I am stoked!”
Williams said the new chargers are required to be close to a major highway – and also located in underserved communities that might not otherwise have access to them.
“We’re putting the investment in the communities that may not normally have been attractive to investment,” Williams said. “So, the government is doing its part. We’re going to serve as a catalyst to attract other investments.”
Williams says city staff haven’t decided yet where the new fast chargers are going to go. City staff members are expected to share plans for the proposed locations in the coming months.
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