Emily Dennis

May 31, 2022

Electric vehicle purchases are on the rise across the United States. But that does not necessarily mean that everyone is able to afford them or live within proximity to charging stations. With gas prices on the rise, foreign conflict, and other factors at play, the federal government should heavily consider investing in electric vehicle infrastructure across the nation. Allowing proper access to electric vehicles and their charging stations would incentivize many people to consider making the switch. By increasing electric vehicle usage, Americans would be decreasing their carbon footprints, which is ultimately better for their wallets and for the environment.  

It is no secret that gas prices have dramatically increased over the last few months. Everyone with a car has likely taken a hit to the wallet. Unfortunately, gas prices and crude oil production are deeply rooted in the world’s geopolitical events. The recent Russian invasion of Ukraine, inflation, and lower oil production due to the pandemic have come together to create a difficult situation for many Americans. This includes having to choose between driving to work or saving on gas money by not going to work at all. While these issues are making many upset about the state of the world, this sentiment could be used to funnel the time and energy into expanding the demand and infrastructure for the electric vehicle market.

Ten years ago, purchasing an electric vehicle would have seemed like a crazy idea to many, with concerns about driving range, charging times, and cost. However, in 2022, these problems are being resolved and the projected sales for electric vehicles have reached nearly $700,000 for the year of 2022.[1] With gas prices on the rise, people are starting to reconsider their driving habits for several reasons. Whether it is the lower energy costs, fighting climate change, increased performance, or because it might be the ‘cool’ thing to do, many American drivers are making the switch. Electric vehicles are beneficial for a variety of reasons. Whether it is an all-electric vehicle or a hybrid model, these vehicles contribute to building upon the nation’s energy security. Multiple energy sources are used to recharge an electric vehicle, but these sources are produced domestically, compared to the imported petroleum that many standard gas vehicles rely on. Fuel economy is the number of miles a vehicle can travel on a specific amount of fuel. This value is another upside to owning an electric vehicle, especially in more recent years as the technologies continue to improve. Electric vehicles also have the added benefit of zero tailpipe emissions, helping to cut down on environmental impacts, something regular vehicles are unable to do.[2] In March 2022, the American Automobile Association (AAA) conducted a survey noting that 59 percent of motorists would change driving habits if gas hit $4.00 per gallon. In that same survey, 75 percent of respondents said that they would have to completely adjust their lifestyle if gas prices hit $5.00 per gallon.[3] Noting the rise in electric vehicle sales in conjunction with rising gas prices, it only makes sense that the federal government begin to heavily invest in the infrastructure for these vehicles. By having the capacity to deal with the expansion of electric vehicles, the United States would have the opportunity to present itself as a world leader on a number of levels, including in the technological, economic, and environmental sectors.

            Earlier this year, the United States Department of Transportation and Energy announced that it would allocate $5 billion under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.[4] This program would dole out that money to states over the course of five years to build networks of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along Alternative Fuel Corridors, like the interstate highway system. States are required to submit an EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan prior to receiving the funds.[5] By incorporating more charging stations for these electric vehicles, more Americans can have peace of mind knowing that they will be able to access charging stations. However, charging stations should be implemented in more places than just along major highway systems. Fortunately, Francis Energy, a private company in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has begun crafting a network of electric vehicle charging stations in smaller communities across the state. The goal of Francis Energy is to build a ‘supercharger’ network every 50 miles across the rural communities and eventually expand across 24 states.[6] While this project is a step in the right direction for the future of electric vehicles, there could be cause for concern with private business involvement. Fears surrounding privatization are not anything new, as there is a risk of jeopardizing the public good for private interests, or possibly the monopolization of the industry.[7] If the EV market is projected to grow, it would be beneficial for the federal government to step in while also targeting their efforts at all Americans, rural and urban alike. Currently, charging stations can be found in major cities, some workplaces, and along heavily trafficked roadways. Rural America is lacking the much-needed infrastructure to deal with the growing demand for electric vehicles.

            To accommodate the rural areas in America, the Department of Transportation released a Rural EV Toolkit for planning and funding electric mobility infrastructure. This toolkit goes into great detail about the plans for the implementation of electric infrastructure in rural communities, yet it does not lay out an exact timeline for securing these goals. This leaves the issue unresolved, making it difficult to hold any entity responsible for the project’s fulfillment. If the electric vehicle industry is to be expanded, then the infrastructure needs to be a top priority for people living in all areas of the country. Geopolitical situations will likely continue to fluctuate gas prices, along with the uncertainty of the pandemic for the foreseeable future. By focusing on electric vehicles, gas prices would no longer be an issue for those struggling to fill up their tanks. Instead, people can have access to charging stations when and wherever they are needed.

Works Cited

Avery, Dan. “Gas Prices: Los Angeles Hits Record $6 Gallon.” CNET, CNET, 23 Mar. 2022, https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/gas-prices-los-angeles-6-gallon/.

“Developing Infrastructure to Charge Plug-in Electric Vehicles.” Alternative Fuels Data Center: Developing Infrastructure to Charge Plug-In Electric Vehicles, U.S. Department of Energy, 2022, https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_infrastructure.html.

Eisenstein, Paul. “Will High Gas Prices Supercharge Electric Vehicle Sales?” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 3 Mar. 2022, https://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/will-high-gas-prices-supercharge-electric-vehicle-sales-rcna18444.

“Electric Vehicle Benefits and Considerations.” Alternative Fuels Data Center: Electric Vehicle Benefits and Considerations, U.S. Department of Energy, 2022, https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_benefits.html.

Goodman, John, and Gary Loveman. “Does Privatization Serve the Public Interest?” Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Publishing, 1 Aug. 2014, https://hbr.org/1991/11/does-privatization-serve-the-public-interest.

Pepitone, Julianne. “Why Are US Gas Prices Soaring When America Barely Uses Russian Oil?” CNN, Cable News Network, 13 Mar. 2022, https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/12/energy/us-gas-prices-russia-oil/index.html.

“President Biden, USDOT and USDOE Announce $5 Billion over Five Years for National EV Charging Network, Made Possible by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.” President Biden, USDOT and USDOE Announce $5 Billion over Five Years for National EV Charging Network, Made Possible by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law | FHWA, U.S. Department of Transportation, 10 Feb. 2022, https://highways.dot.gov/newsroom/president-biden-usdot-and-usdoe-announce-5-billion-over-five-years-national-ev-charging.

Sweeney, Erica. “How the Public and Private Sectors Are Working to Enhance Access to Electric-Vehicle Charging Stations in Rural Areas.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 24 Mar. 2022, https://www.businessinsider.com/companies-expand-access-ev-charging-rural-america-2022-3.

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[1] Eisenstein, Paul. “Will High Gas Prices Supercharge Electric Vehicle Sales?” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 3 Mar. 2022, https://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/will-high-gas-prices-supercharge-electric-vehicle-sales-rcna18444.

[2] “Electric Vehicle Benefits and Considerations.” Alternative Fuels Data Center: Electric Vehicle Benefits and Considerations, U.S. Department of Energy, 2022, https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_benefits.html.

[3]Avery, Dan. “Gas Prices: Los Angeles Hits Record $6 Gallon.” CNET, CNET, 23 Mar. 2022, https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/gas-prices-los-angeles-6-gallon/.

[4] “President Biden, USDOT and USDOE Announce $5 Billion over Five Years for National EV Charging Network, Made Possible by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.” President Biden, USDOT and USDOE Announce $5 Billion over Five Years for National EV Charging Network, Made Possible by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law | FHWA, U.S. Department of Transportation, 10 Feb. 2022, https://highways.dot.gov/newsroom/president-biden-usdot-and-usdoe-announce-5-billion-over-five-years-national-ev-charging.

[5] “Developing Infrastructure to Charge Plug-in Electric Vehicles.” Alternative Fuels Data Center: Developing Infrastructure to Charge Plug-In Electric Vehicles, U.S. Department of Energy, 2022, https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_infrastructure.html.

[6] Sweeney, Erica. “How the Public and Private Sectors Are Working to Enhance Access to Electric-Vehicle Charging Stations in Rural Areas.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 24 Mar. 2022, https://www.businessinsider.com/companies-expand-access-ev-charging-rural-america-2022-3.

[7] Goodman, John, and Gary Loveman. “Does Privatization Serve the Public Interest?” Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Publishing, 1 Aug. 2014, https://hbr.org/1991/11/does-privatization-serve-the-public-interest.

Image Credits: distelAPPArath from Pixabay