More than 80 charging outlets for electric vehicles will be installed across Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced last week.
The 88 charging outlets will be installed in 32 locations throughout the state as part of its Charge Up Michigan program through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. The program will award more than $1.8 million in grants for the charging outlets, which are expected to be operational by the end of the year.
“Michigan put the world on wheels and will continue driving the world forward by leading on mobility and electrification,” Whitmer said in a statement. “These grants demonstrate our commitment to expanding EV infrastructure across Michigan and build on the extraordinary work and investments of our innovative industry partners and EGLE to help support drivers who make the transition to electric vehicles.”
The Charge Up Michigan program offers a grant totaling up to $70,000 per charging station to public or private entities that are in partnership with both a host site and the area’s utilities. Grants are funded through the state’s allocation from the Volkswagen diesel settlement.
“Adding another 88 EV chargers — with commitment from private industry, utilities and state support — builds needed infrastructure for Michigan’s mobility evolution,” EGLE Director Liesl Clark said. “It’s an exciting time for the driving public as we see auto manufacturers and utilities right here in Michigan embrace this move to a cleaner mobility technology.”
Areas that will be getting charging outlets include Traverse City, Waterford, Mackinaw City, Detroit, Farmington, Ann Arbor, Port Huron and Romulus, among others.
The Charge Up Michigan program has funded 182 outlets at 76 locations so far, with a goal of having a statewide charging network by 2030. There are currently 480 publicly accessible charging stations in the state.
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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Ohio Star and the Star News Network. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair.
