This story is a part of The Salt Lake Tribune’s ongoing dedication to determine options to Utah’s largest challenges by way of the work of the Innovation Lab.
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Vary anxiousness? Meet your blissful locations.
The Utah Division of Transportation has recognized 18 areas on main highways the place it would set up charging stations that may load electric-vehicle batteries in a half hour or much less.
Scattered throughout the state at not more than 50-mile intervals, every charging station can have 4 chargers. UDOT hopes to put in them within the subsequent 12 months, though supply-chain points might push it out additional, mentioned Lyle McMillan, strategic investments director for UDOT.
The plan “envisions EV charging stations sited on personal/public accomplice managed property,” McMillan mentioned. “Ideally, the chosen properties might be in shut proximity to journey facilities (restrooms, eating, and many others.).”
(Christopher Cherrington | The Salt Lake Tribune)
And, beneath a separate program, Rocky Mountain Energy can also be planning extra stations. They’re coordinating with UDOT to keep away from doubling up at websites.
“We’re trying to do 20 areas, and so if any of those overlap [with UDOT’s], we’ll put ours in a distinct location,” mentioned James Campbell, director of innovation and sustainability coverage at PacifiCorp and Rocky Mountain Energy.
The UDOT stations will value an estimated $1 million per web site, and they are going to be funded by the federal Nationwide Electrical Car Infrastructure program (NEVI).
In 2020, the Utah Legislature handed HB259, which directed UDOT to plan a charging community to serve Utahns and the vacationers exploring the state’s scenic wonders. The plan is to put in them within the subsequent 12 months, however NEVI funding has necessities round home sourcing of apparatus. Implementation could possibly be delayed if such gear can’t be obtained rapidly.
The chargers might be 150 kilowatts, that means they can provide the typical electrical automotive a 100-mile cost in about 12 minutes.
Rocky Mountain continues to be engaged on siting its stations, and people stations will embody two 150-KW chargers and two 350-KW chargers, which can provide that 100-mile cost in about 5 minutes. Rocky Mountain’s community might be a mixture of rural and concrete stations, Campbell mentioned.
Underneath separate laws (HB396) additionally handed in 2020, Rocky Mountain will spend $50 million to construct out its community. As a result of Rocky Mountain’s ratepayers will fund the community, the utility’s prospects will be capable of cost their automobiles at a less expensive fee than everybody else. Rocky Mountain prospects can pay 27 cents per kilowatt hour throughout peak hours, whereas non-customers can pay 45 cents. Off-peak chargers get a 5-cent per KWH low cost.
Each UDOT’s and Rocky Mountain’s plans are about assembly future demand and addressing automotive patrons’ considerations about switching to electrical automobiles greater than assembly a present want.
Cindy Larsen, supervisor of the Delle Metropolis Station in Delle, Utah, mentioned she hasn’t heard something from UDOT in regards to the charging station deliberate for the tiny outpost on Interstate 80 midway between Salt Lake Metropolis and Wendover. She mentioned she has had a few nquiries from personal corporations eager to arrange stations. There isn’t a charging choice there now.
She mentioned there was one lady who lived close to Delle who requested about EV charging, however in any other case she hasn’t had any prospects wanting a charger.
Tim Fitzpatrick is The Salt Lake Tribune’s renewable power reporter, a place funded by a grant from Rocky Mountain Energy. The Tribune retains all management over editorial selections unbiased of Rocky Mountain Energy.