Keaton PetersArkansas is looking to fill the gaps in its electric vehicle charging network. The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) is pushing ahead with an EV charging infrastructure program, opening applications to receive funding from Arkansas’ $54.1 million allocation of a major federal initiative. The program is designed to build a comprehensive network of charging stations along the state’s major highways and alternative fuel corridors by 2030.
The funding comes from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, established by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which allocated $5 billion nationwide to create a network of 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations across America’s highways.
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This marks the second round of the program looks to fill remaining service gaps in the state’s charging network.
Approved charging stations must meet specific technical requirements: DC fast charging stations must be placed every 50 miles and within one mile of highway interchanges along Alternative Fuel Corridors. Each location must feature four 150-kilowatt chargers capable of simultaneously charging four vehicles and include a combined charging system supporting both AC and DC charging.
The program will cover up to 80% of project costs through federal funding, with the remaining 20% coming from non-federal sources including private investment. Eligible expenses include not only the charging equipment itself but also pre-construction work, grid updates, installation and up to five years of operating and maintenance costs.
ARDOT is prioritizing several categories of potential applicants, including utilities, businesses registered in Arkansas, non-profit organizations and tribal organizations. The program requires charging stations to be publicly accessible and meet federal standards for reliability and user experience.
Projects will be evaluated based on specific criteria outlined in the RFP submission package. ARDOT has developed an interactive map showing current gaps in charging infrastructure to help applicants identify priority locations for new stations. Projects that fill these gaps along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors will receive priority consideration.
Interested organizations must submit their proposals through the ARDOT application portal by March 19, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Central Standard Time.
Image by Goran Horvat from Pixabay
