Is EV charging the future for Kansas?

Is EV charging the future for traveling in Kansas?

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TOPEKA (KSNT) - Do you have strong feelings on electric vehicle (EV) charging on Kansas roads? If so, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) wants to hear from you.

KDOT announced on May 15 in a press release that it is looking for feedback from Kansans on its Charge Up Kansas National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Plan. Every state is required to create a NEVI Plan to receive funds. This plan outlines how Kansas will use its funds to support the deployment of charging infrastructure on its roadways.

Kansas received almost $40 million in funding for its NEVI plan over the course of five years as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), according to KDOT. This is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021 which authorizes $1.2 trillion for transportation and infrastructure spending with $550 billion in funding going towards novel investments and programs nationwide. Agencies and communities across the Sunflower State are eligible to apply for additional funds through $2.5 billion in discretionary programs.

KDOT is currently in its second round of Requests for Proposals for EV charging infrastructure projects. In the first round of funding announced earlier this year, Governor Laura Kelly said more than $4.6 million in federal funds would be directed toward the first six locations for the state's NEVI Plan which include:

• Emporia, Flying J, 4215 W. Hwy 50
• Garden City, Love's 3285 E. US Hwy 50
• Cherokee, Pete's, 20 US 400
• Fredonia, Pete's 2400 E. Washington Street
• Belleville, Love's 1356 US Hwy 81
• Pratt, Casey's, 1900 E. 1st Street

To take the KDOT survey on EV charging stations, click here. To learn more about the NEVI Plan, click here.

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