Kentucky is pursuing electric vehicle infrastructure, and Tuesday the legislature heard testimony on how state officials are working to institute Kentucky’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan.
The Kentucky plan is being developed as part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, or NEVI, Formula Funding Program. Funding comes from the 2021 Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, and Kentucky is getting $10.3 million this year, with a total of $69.5 million through 2026. There will also be $17.4 million in non-federal funds.
“The goal of the NEVI funding is to develop a reliable, affordable, and equitable national EV charging network,” said John Moore, assistant state highway engineer for project development and cabinet lead at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. “The initial focus is to deploy fast chargers along the interstates to support long-distance travel.”
In order to access the funding, Kentucky has to have a federally approved plan. The KYTC is working with the Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC), the Public Service Commission (PSC), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to develop Kentucky’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Deployment Plan.
As part of the plan, Kentucky must develop specific corridors along its highway system. Interstates 65, 75, and 71 already have EV infrastructure in place. Routes 68, 9, and 23 are ready for this infrastructure. The plan will help to develop EV infrastructure on Interstate 64, 69, and 165.
The goal, according to Moore, is to put in place Direct Current Fast Charging stations. There are three levels of EV charging stations, with the first two more slow charging. The level three charging stations, the DCFCs, can charge cars to get a range of 250 miles in 30 minutes.
“The focus on the initial rollout of the NEVI funds is on fast charging,” Moore said. “These are estimated to give you a full charge in about 30 minutes.”
Multiple vendors will be able to pitch to have their stations, with private funding expected to fill in the gaps from the NEVI funding.
Moore said the process is yet to be determined but agreed that multiple vendors could be vying for the stations. He explained that private investment, in addition to the NEVI funding, could help meet some of the demand.
“The demand we see on a lot of the interstates within five to 10 years will require more than what this program will roll out,” Moore said. “There is an opportunity for the marketplace to fill in where these funds do not touch.”
