Bipartisan Plan Will Create EV Charging Network Across Midwest
Alex Healey
· 3 min read
There’s some good news for drivers across the Midwest, as the governors of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have agreed to work together to create an
electric vehicle
charging network.The bipartisan plan is called REV Midwest, short for the Regional Electric Vehicle Midwest Coalition. Proponents say it will provide a much needed boost to the Midwest economy, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition to job creation, the five states hope the plan will speed up EV adoption, and secure more federal funding and private investment for the region.
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What is REV Midwest?
The main goal for REV Midwest is to make it easier to find electric vehicle charging stations in the region. In turn, this will reduce range anxiety and boost EV adoption.
The Midwest is not the first region to formulate such a plan, with New York also announcing its intent to build a
huge electric car charging network
. However, the fact this is happening in the Midwest, a region synonymous with traditional auto manufacturing, is much more surprising.NPR
explains how the states will coordinate electrification efforts by streamlining regulations and charging operations across the region. It is hoped that by working together, the Midwest can become a global leader on EV adoption.Not only will this create well-paying jobs and improve public health, it will also secure the region’s economic health in a fast-changing world.
Indiana governor Eric Holcomb says the EV charging infrastructure is “needed to futureproof our transportation network and meet the demand as rapid adoption of electric vehicles continues."
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A more equitable future
Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer emphasized the need for a more equitable future. It is hoped that REV Midwest will provide economic opportunities for disadvantaged areas.
Additionally, a reduction in the number of gas-powered vehicles will give greater quality of life to people living near to main highways. These communities are some of the poorest in the region, and they will benefit greatly from improved air quality.
The governors of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have signed up to "work together to enable an equitable transition to electric vehicles for all with specific consideration for communities that are historically disadvantaged."
Not every state has signed up to REV Midwest
MORE: Where Are the Best Places to Build EV Chargers?
While the plan does enjoy bipartisan support, a couple of neighboring states are conspicuous in their absence. Specifically, the Republican governors of Iowa and Ohio have both declined to join the plan.
Mike DeWine of Ohio has long been skeptical of EVs, even proposing to increase higher vehicle registration fees for plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles.
In Iowa, governor Kim Reynolds has thrown her support behind wind energy and other alternative fuel sources, but appears to be taking a ‘wait and see’ approach to REV Midwest.
Still, there is time for them to change their minds, and the plan is demonstrable proof that EVs are making inroads into states where drivers have been reluctant to ditch gas-powered cars.
