The first DC fast charging station in the US Southeast funded by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program has broken ground, marking a significant milestone in the region’s electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure development.
Located at Circle K in Richmond, Kentucky, along the Interstate 75 corridor, the charging station will be the Southeast’s first NEVI-funded and compliant facility. It will feature 180 kW ABB E-mobility Terra 184 chargers that are Build America, Buy America (BABA) compliant and meet the NEVI technical minimum standards. Initially installed with CCS 1 connectors, NACS connectors will be added later this year.
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Kentucky, a major EV battery production state, has selected seven developers to install chargers at 24 sites and is seeking proposals to install up to 16 additional NEVI-funded EV charging stations. This initiative is part of the state’s EV charging program’s first phase, which aims to add up to 40 DC fast charging stations by 2025 along Kentucky’s interstates and parkways.
Governor Andy Beshear (D-KY) stated, “Since taking office in 2019, Kentucky has seen EV-related announcements that account for $11.6 billion in planned investments and more than 10,125 new full-time jobs created.”
Kentucky will receive nearly $70 million from the federal NEVI Program, established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to support the development of EV charging infrastructure.
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NEVI Formula program funding requires EV charging stations to be available every 50 miles and within one travel mile of the Alternative Fuel Corridor. The stations must include at least four ports with connectors capable of simultaneously charging four EVs at 150 kilowatts (kW) each, with a total station power capacity of 600 kW or more.
Furthermore, the charging stations must provide 24-hour public accessibility and amenities such as restrooms, food and beverage, and shelter, enhancing the overall EV charging experience for consumers in Kentucky and beyond.
