More EV chargers to be installed with NEVI funding, Bond Bill

November 1, 2024 5

DOVER — Fueled by more than $21 million in transportation investments from the state of Delaware and the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, Camden and Harrington will be among the first cities in Delaware to receive new electric vehicle chargers along busy highway corridors, leaders announced Friday.

The technology-driven infrastructure updates included $17.5 million in funding from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and NEVI and $4 million from the First State’s Bond Bill, helping connect drivers to a network of charging stations statewide, as well as the broader, national network of charging stations which is also in the works thanks, in part, to NEVI.

Governor John Carney said the funds were just one piece of the puzzle on the path to “charging Delaware’s future.”

He joined other leaders during a press event in speaking highly of the partnership needed behind the scenes between Delaware’s Department of Transportation (DelDOT) and Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) to make the project a growing success in order to positively impact both local and global concerns.

“There’s nothing more important than implementing our climate action plan and addressing climate change and sea rise in our state,” Carney told the crowd at the event.

Lt. Governor Bethany Hall Long, DelDOT Secretary Nicole Majeski, DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin and DelDOT Division of Transportation Resilience & Sustainability Director Stephanie Johnson shared his appreciation of the partnership which allowed for the future installation of the charging stations along busy corridors of Route 13, Route 113, Route 1 and Interstate 95.

Majeski added that the larger goal of the NEVI program is to help create a nation-wide network of charging stations while reducing the “range anxiety” some drivers may feel as the technology continues to improve and popularity and legislation increases year over year.

“We are now seeing about 1,000 new EVs or hybrids registered each month in the state. So, the number has increased substantially. Before, we were at about 1% of our registered vehicles were EV’s or hybrid and now we’re at 4.5% and that’s going to continue to grow as the availability of the stock of these cars becomes more available for folks so it’s important that we have the infrastructure in place to be able to support it,” Majeski said.

Up to 10 devices will be installed in the new network of electric vehicle chargers in Delaware, including charging stations in Camden, Harrington, Georgetown, Christiana, Bear, Seaford and the rest stop along the I-95 corridor, all of which Majeski said drivers can locate on DelDOT’s app.

The new chargers will be in addition to the 14 charging stations, all fast chargers, installed at businesses across the state last year with funding from DNREC, as well as an increasing number of chargers now found at various locations statewide including gas stations.

But Johnson said that the emphasis of this project, however, was a bit different than the traditional gas station charging model as leaders hoped to meet drivers where they are more likely to need electric vehicle chargers for extended periods of time.

“This state investment [of $4 million] acknowledges that to effectively address range anxiety and encourage EV adoption, Delaware must not only secure the NEVI funding. . . for major roadways, but we also needed to secure opportunities for access within our communities,” she said.

“The Charging Forward strategy provides a framework for this $4 million in state funds to support EV charging on state routes, prioritizing the routes that serve our disadvantaged communities, rural areas and residents of multi-unit dwellings where home charging may not be feasible,” Johnson added. “This $4 million will be able to support those communities to be able to have that access and opportunity and I like to think of the NEVI funds coupled with this state investment as kind of working on the two ends of the spectrum.”