Governor Kay Ivey awarded nearly $1 million on Friday to three different businesses in East Alabama to fund electric vehicle charging stations.
Ivey awarded three grants from funds remaining from Alabama's portion of the nationwide Volkswagen settlement plan for electric charging stations at businesses and public venues in three locations, all in East Alabama.
"As the automotive industry, including manufacturers who call Alabama home, shift production toward electric vehicles, Alabama has made strides in supporting increased charging stations along our travel corridors," Ivey said in a statement. "We will continue that progress as more vehicles, including many produced here in Alabama, are powered by electricity."
In addition to the grants announced on Friday, Ivey has awarded a total of $8.2 million from state funds and Volkswagen settlement funds to support chargers at 44 locations. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is administering the funds, including these awards.
Businesses awarded grants on Friday were:
Smiths Station – $621,232 to Love's Travel Stops and Country Stores to install a charging station at a Love's location at 747 Lee County Road 248 (near U.S. Highway 280). Love's is supplying a $155,308 match.
Phenix City – $240,596 to CatCard LLC to install two charging stations at Burger King, 1820 Stadium Drive. CatCard is providing a $106,866 match.
Gadsden – $77,818 to Ira Phillips Inc. to install three charging stations at the Venue at Coosa Landing Event Center, 201 George Wallace Dr. The company is supplying a match of $41,940.
Last week, ADECA opened the application period for the state's portion of the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, which will first focus on charging stations along interstates. Other funds, including the grants announced on Friday, are focused on other well-traveled roads and highways in the state. The Volkswagen settlement arose from an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding Volkswagen's violation of the federal Clean Air Act. Alabama was among states that received settlement funds.
Charging stations differ from fast to medium charging times, resulting in a difference in costs. In addition, some charging stations can charge several vehicles simultaneously causing another variance in the cost of the stations.
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