DETROIT (WXYZ) — A major project aimed at creating more charging stations for electric vehicles along I-94 from Michigan to Montana is wrapping up before the end of 2021.
It is called the Michigan to Montana Alternative Fuel Program. The goal is to have a charging station every 50 miles along I-94, allowing owners of electric vehicles to have an option for road trips.
“I am not a fan of electric vehicles for long road trips,” said William Slatkin.
Slatkin has owned a Tesla for the past four years. He says at this point, the lack of charging stations makes road trips a no-go.
“The more charges and the more access people to it would be easier it will be for the consumer to use,” said Slatkin.
A $5 million grant was given from the U.S. Department of Energy to make the project possible. Clean City Coalitions teaming up across the country to make it possible, including the Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities Coalition.
“In areas that perhaps are more rural or suburban they may not have available electric vehicle charging to get to that 50, 85, 200 mile range for the trips that people want to take. So I always say yeah there is available charging for my needs where I live but we want to make sure there is available charging for everybody who wants to be able to use this technology,” said Maggie Striz-Calnin, who works as a coordinator with Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities Coalition.
The goal this year here in Michigan, is more EV charging stations in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo.
Online tools to look for charging stations include Alternative Fuels Data Centerand A Better Routeplanner.
