Alabama is handing out $11.2 million in federal grants to install 13 NEVI-compliant EV charging stations – here’s where they’re going.
Alabama has NEVI EV charging stations coming
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) announced the 13 winners of the first round of the Biden administration’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) federal grants on Monday.
A 14th grant of $2.4 million was awarded to Bevill State Community College in Jasper to expand its current HVAC Training Center to teach students how to install and maintain EV chargers.
The EV charging stations will be sited along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors of interstates and major highways. (An Alternative Fuel Corridor is a roadway on which an EV driver could be confident that EV chargers will be available.)
The federal NEVI program allocates $5 billion over five years to help US states create a network of EV charging stations. The funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The NEVI program requires EV charging stations to be available every 50 miles and within one travel mile of the Alternative Fuel Corridor. EV charging stations must include at least four ports with connectors capable of simultaneously charging four EVs at 150 kilowatts (kW) each, with a total station power capacity of 600 kW or more.
The charging stations must have 24-hour public accessibility and provide amenities like restrooms, food and beverage, and shelter.
Governor Kay Ivey (R-AL) said, “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.”
Alabama will receive $79 million in NEVI grants from 2022 to 2027 to help businesses build, own, and operate DC fast charging stations. ADECA is administering the grants, which cover 80% of the cost of the DC fast charging stations, with the businesses covering the other 20%.
Here’s exactly where Alabama’s 13 EV charging stations are going and how much funding is allocated to each project:
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 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. $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 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 to install three 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.
Electrek’s Take
This is great news for Alabama residents and very good news for EV drivers on road trips passing through Alabama, seeing how its neighboring states are nowhere near this stage.
Mississippi, which has fewer EV charging stations per capita than any other state, won’t have its NEVI EV charging stations in place until 2026 or 2027 – the Mississippi Department of Transportation is still in the planning phase. Mississippi’s first round will be issued by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Florida, No. 2 in the US for registered EVs, hasn’t even opened bidding for its first round of NEVI funding, and Florida businesses aren’t happy (see below). The Florida Department of Transportation’s NEVI priority timeline has not been updated on its website since October 2023.
Read more: Gas stations tell Florida to stop dawdling with $198M in federal EV charger funding
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