MONTGOMERY — As the number of electric vehicles continues to climb, the state is moving to accommodate the vehicles as they continue to make their way along Alabama highways.
To help meet that demand, the state has awarded 14 grants totaling $11.2 million, including 13 grants for charging stations at fueling stations off the state’s interstate systems – three are in North Alabama. Another grant, awarded to Bevill State Community College in Jasper, will help train students to install and maintain the electric chargers.
“Having strategic electric vehicle charging stations across Alabama not only benefits EV drivers, but it also benefits those companies that produce electric vehicles, including many of them right here in Alabama, resulting in more high-paying jobs for Alabamians,” Gov. Kay Ivey said. “This latest round of projects will provide added assurance that Alabamians and travelers to our state whose choose electric vehicles can travel those highways and know a charging station is within a reliable distance on their routes.”
Funds for the projects came from the Federal Highway Administration to strategically locate electric vehicle charging stations within reasonable charging distances for electric vehicles.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, most electric cars can travel from 200 to 400 miles on a full charge.
The latest grants are part of about $79 million from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program allocated to Alabama over several years for electric vehicle chargers.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants.
“Alabama continues to make progress in installing charging systems for electric vehicles along major roadways,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA is pleased to support Gov. Ivey’s efforts to ensure that drivers who choose electric vehicles have access to dependable charging infrastructure as they travel the state.”
The grants were awarded through a bidding process.
Among the eligibility requirements are that projects can be located no farther than a mile from an interstate and businesses must be open year-round on a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week schedule. The grants cover 80% of the project with the companies supplying at least a 20% match.
Grants awarded and project locations are at:
- Falkville – $768,782 to Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores to install two dual-port chargers at its location at 64 East Pike Road, off Interstate 65.
- Gadsden – $331,807 to Silver Comet Energy Inc. to install four chargers at the RaceTrac Store, 1715 W. Grand Ave., near Interstate 59.
- Hamilton – $656,166 to Love’s Travel Stop & Country Stores to install two dual-port chargers at its location at Marion County Highway 35, adjacent to Interstate 22.
- Jasper – $2.4 million to Bevill State Community College in Jasper to expand its current HVAC Training Center to include workforce training resulting in certification for the installation, testing, operation and maintenance of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
$788,921 to Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores to install two dual-port chargers its location at 83 Carl Cannon Blvd., near Interstate 22. - Heflin – $656,166 to Love’s Travel Stop & Country Stores to install two dual-port chargers at its location at 6647 Alabama Highway 46, adjacent to Interstate 20.
- Tuscaloosa-Cottondale – $581,200 to BP Products North America Inc. to install three electric charging stations at Travel Centers of America Tuscaloosa, 3501 Buttermilk Road, near Interstate 20/59.
- Eutaw – $783,299 to Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores to install two dual-port chargers at its 7561 Mesopotamia Street location, adjacent to Interstate 20/59.
- Clanton – $660,909 to Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores to install two dual-port chargers at its store location at 300 Arby Drive, near Interstate 65.
- Montgomery – $581,200 to BP Products North America Inc. to install threee chargers at Travel Centers of America Montgomery, 980 West South Blvd., adjacent to Interstate 65.
- Fort Deposit – $759,024 to Priester Retail Stores Inc. to install two dual-port chargers at it store, 80 Bishop Bottom Road, adjacent to Interstate 65.
- Evergreen – $867,238 to Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores to install two dual-port chargers at its location, 16101 U.S. Highway 84, near Interstate 65.
- Atmore – $725,864 to Poarch Band of Creek Indians to install two duo-port chargers at Creek Travel Plaza, 4740 Jack Springs Road, near Interstate 65.
- Irvington – $639,564 to Love’s Travel Stop & Country Stores to install two dual-port charges at its location at 8400 County Farm Road, near Interstate 10.
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