Dec 14 (Reuters) – The California Energy Commission on Wednesday approved a $2.9 billion investment plan to accelerate the state’s 2025 electric vehicle (EV) charging and hydrogen refueling goals.
According to the Energy Commission, the investment will install 90,000 new EV chargers statewide, more than double the 80,000 already installed.
Combined with funding from utilities and other programs, these investments are expected to ensure the state reaches its goal of deploying 250,000 chargers by 2025.
The state will allocate $1.7 billion to support medium and heavy duty zero-emission vehicles.
“This plan will increase access to charging and hydrogen fueling for individuals, businesses and public institutions, while supporting an emerging manufacturing ecosystem and creating jobs,” said CEC’s chief transport commissioner. Patti Monaghan said in a statement.
In September, the US Department of Transportation approved plans for electric vehicle charging stations covering nearly 75,000 miles (120,700 km) of highways in all 50 states of Washington and Puerto Rico.
The $1 trillion infrastructure bill provides $5 billion to help states install EV chargers over five years along interstate highways. States now have more than $1.5 billion available to help build EV chargers.
The White House has approved 35 of the 50 state plans it announced earlier this year.
California moved in August to require all new cars sold in the state to be electric or plug-in electric hybrids by 2035.
Reported by Leah Binoy, Bengaluru. Edited by Stephen Coates
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