Extra native governments throughout Michigan see EV charging as a related concern, however the quantity remains to be pretty low, in keeping with a brand new College of Michigan survey, and people desirous about EV charging see price as a barrier.
Whereas the survey is Michigan-specific, it is the standard hub of the auto business and possibly represents a higher consciousness in rural areas of EV tech versus different states. Performed final fall, it elevated curiosity from native governments in comparison with a earlier research performed in 2019, however nonetheless leaves some room for enchancment.
Just below 40% of native leaders surveyed stated EV infrastructure planning is considerably or very related—a 23% improve from 2019. Simply over 1 / 4 stated EV charging is not related of their jurisdictions, in comparison with 40% in 2019.
2022 GMC Hummer EV pre-production at Manufacturing unit Zero plant in Detroit, Michigan
Over a 3rd of respondents (34%) stated their neighborhood had too few public charging stations, up from 29% in 2019. A majority of these surveyed (53%) pointed to the price of including EV charging stations or lack of curiosity amongst residents (51%) as main limitations to additional infrastructure enlargement.
The survey additionally discovered an city/rural divide, with village and township officers much less prone to say that planning for EV charging could be very related to their jurisdictions (at 14% and 10%, respectively) in comparison with officers of cities and counties (32% and 30%).
Rivian Waypoints chargers at Holland State Park, MI – Photograph by Diane Dawson Wilks, c/o Michigan DNR
On the federal stage, the Biden administration’s 500,000-charger nationwide community will probably be laid out throughout some rural areas and small cities, but it surely depends upon designated various gas corridors. The administration has offered further funds centered on rural areas—known as out ambiguously as “low-income communities and non-urban areas” and relying on statistical designations.
Some smaller California cities and rural counties have been very wanting to share their success with EVs and charging, however that was on the early adopter stage and at a time when EVs have been much less politically polarizing. In the meantime, putting in Degree 2 chargers for commuters, customers, and extra will certainly assist in rural areas, too. They usually do not price a lot.
