South Carolina is gearing up to increase the availability of electric vehicle charging stations by 2025. Despite the state’s aspirations to become a manufacturing hub for the electric vehicle industry, it currently lags behind many other states in terms of charging infrastructure for battery-powered cars.
To address this issue, the South Carolina Department of Transportation has secured .2 million in federal funding to expand the number of fast-charging stations along the nation’s interstate system. An additional million is expected to be allocated over the next two years to further support this initiative.
The Department of Transportation has been actively seeking input from the community on where to strategically place these new charging stations and what amenities should accompany them. The goal is to facilitate long-distance travel by providing drivers with the ability to quickly charge their vehicles and continue on their journey.
While plans are in motion to start building the new chargers by the end of this year, a potential manufacturing shortage of chargers that meet federal guidelines could impact the timeline. Any remaining funds after the installation of fast-charging stations will be directed towards serving rural areas and cities without interstate access.
South Carolina currently ranks 40th in the nation and second to last in the Southeast in terms of fast chargers per capita. The state also lags in the number of electric vehicles sold compared to neighboring states like Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.
The Biden Administration’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure plan aims to address this issue by investing .2 billion nationwide to establish public charging stations every 50 miles along designated interstates. In South Carolina, this includes routes like I-26, I-20, I-77, I-85, and I-95.
While progress is underway in many states across the country, South Carolina is among the states that have yet to begin construction on new charging stations. However, plans are in place to start building the stations in preparation for a more electric vehicle-friendly future in the state.
