Biden administration accelerates plans for a national EV charging network
ABC News
Building EV charging stations in rural America is a goal of Biden's.
Vice President Kamala Harris will announce the administration's EV Charging Action Plan on Monday to fast-track a nationwide charging network for electric vehicles.
The plan outlines steps for how federal agencies, such as the Department of Energy and the Department of Transportation, can support the president's EV goals. Biden said he would like half of all new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030.
EVs currently make up 2% of the U.S. market. Sales of electrified vehicles -- pure battery electric vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrids -- accounted for 10.4% of total vehicle sales in the third-quarter of 2021, according to Kelley Blue Book, an all-time high. The best-selling EV in the U.S. is Tesla's Model Y.
A joint office will be set up between the Energy and Transportation agencies to leverage resources and build the nationwide network, according to the administration. Industry insiders argue that a million DC fast chargers -- which allow drivers to recharge 80% of a vehicle's battery in 30 minutes -- are needed to reach Biden's EV targets. There are currently fewer than 46,000 EV public charging sites in the U.S., according to Department of Energy data.
