$2M in federal subsidies offered for EV charging stations in McLennan County
State and regional transportation officials are seeking private businesses willing to take federal money to build charging stations along McLennan County's major highways.
The Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization policy board on Thursday approved guidelines for the new charging stations in the bidding process that the Texas Department of Transportation is expected to launch early next year.
The guidelines specify that the three charging stations will be located among three east-west corridors — highways 6, 84 and 31 — which are considered underserved compared to Interstate 35. TxDOT will issue a request for proposals for the chargers and use standardized criteria to select the funding recipients.
The charging stations each will have four fast-charging, 150-kilowatt ports that will be compatible with almost all electric vehicles.
MPO director Mukesh Kumar said funding will come from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program that was created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
Kumar expects about $1.5 million in federal funds to construct the chargers, with a 20% private match bringing the installation investment to $1.85 million. The federal program would also provide an estimated $461,658 for operations and maintenance, with no match required.
At estimated cost of $150,000 per port, a gas station, supermarket or other business could qualify for more than $500,000 in federal funding for installing four units.
Kumar said many charging companies and retailers already have agreements to build EV charging networks, but the high cost has been a hurdle.
"My understanding is that the private sector at this time, unless they're backed by a large company like Walmart, are not in a position to start one without any federal assistance," he said. "So that's why they do need this, but they are ready. ... There are plenty of them that can deliver."
Kumar expects the state request for proposal process to start early next year, resulting in chargers installed by the end of the year or early 2026.
He said the rollout has been delayed somewhat because TxDOT is also seeking applicants to install chargers along a stretch of Interstate 35 between downtown Waco and South Loop 340. An earlier phase of the state's electric vehicle charger program sought to ensure that designated "alternative fuel corridors" such as Interstate 35 have adequate charging stations every 50 miles, and Waco's offerings were initially considered adequate.
Because of a recent change in federal definitions, TxDOT is seeking an additional charging station in the the southern stretch of Interstate 35 in Waco, he said.
Alan Northcutt, a Waco environmental activist and electric vehicle proponent, said the plans laid out by the MPO and TxDOT seem solid.
"That sounds pretty good for people who are traveling, or if you don't have a a garage, you could charge your car there," he said.
"To me it makes a lot of sense for businesses, no doubt about that. It will attract business."
Northcutt has two Teslas and a Chevy Bolt his college-age child uses. He has made trips to Boulder, Colorado, using both the Bolt and one of the Teslas, using map apps that show routes where chargers are available.
He said 150-kilowatt chargers that transportation officials propose would allow him to bring the charge in his Tesla from 20% to 80% in 20 or 25 minutes, granting him nearly 260 miles of driving range. Charging to 100% takes longer, and he prefers not to do that.
Northcutt said he believes the EV future is fast approaching, and most of the fears about range are overblown.
"I think a big misconception when people look at EVs is they say, 'What about the availability of chargers?'" he said. "I think people don't realize that 90% of charging is done at home. It's actually more convenient than refueling with an internal combustion engine."
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