COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Electric
Highway Coalition (EHC) has doubled the number of companies
committed to enabling long distance electric vehicle (EV) travel
through a network of DC fast charging stations connecting major
highway systems.
Membership in the EHC – which is committed to helping enable
long distance all-electric travel by adding fast charging stations
along U.S. highway routes – has now grown to include AVANGRID,
Consolidated Edison, DTE Energy, Eversource Energy, Exelon,
FirstEnergy Corp., ITC Holdings Corp., and National Grid. Formed in
March 2021, EHC began its membership
with American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP), Dominion Energy, Duke
Energy, Entergy Corporation, Southern Co., and the Tennessee Valley
Authority.
Together, the 14 members – representing 29 states and the
District of Columbia and serving
more than 60 million customers – are committed to growing corridor
EV charging solutions within their service territories and working
with other members to ensure the charging resources enabled EV
drivers convenient charging options and seamless travel routes.
In addition to expanding membership, the EHC has further defined
its goals and objectives while beginning cooperation in pursuit of
their shared objective. The members have agreed to work together to
ensure efficient and effective fast charging deployment plans that
enable long distance EV travel, avoid duplication among coalition
utilities, and complement existing corridor fast charging sites.
Ideally, EHC members are pursuing sites that are easily accessible
for drivers located less than 100 miles apart. The EHC is also
committed to providing a positive charging experience for drivers,
including having at least two charging stations with universal
vehicle compatibility, and additional features where feasible, such
as real-time status reporting for drivers and convenient payment
collection. DC Fast charging stations are typically capable of
getting drivers back on the road in 20-30 minutes. However, the
member companies are working closely with stakeholders in their
service territories to determine the best approaches to support
effective EV charging buildout. Additionally, each member company
will determine its own specific pricing models and select their own
charging equipment providers.
"AEP helped bring the initial members of the Electric Highway
Coalition together. In just a few months we have been able to more
than double the number of companies who want to be part of this
unprecedented effort," said Nicholas K.
Akins, AEP's chairman, president and chief executive
officer. "Every major car maker has announced production of EVs for
every lifestyle – from pickup trucks to performance cars – and our
industry is prepared to ensure that drivers can travel wherever the
road takes them. Through the EHC, we can make sure that our
nation's charging infrastructure is built to enable travel and make
the most efficient use of the energy grid."
AEP has committed to replacing its 2,300 cars and light-duty
trucks with EV models by 2030. Additional medium- and heavy-duty
vehicles will transition to hybrid or electric alternatives as
models become available. The charging network announced today also
will enable AEP employees to use EVs to travel throughout the
company's 11-state service territory. AEP also is working with
select customers across its service territory to help them
understand the benefits of electrifying their own vehicle fleets or
business processes.
Across its service territory, AEP is working with regulators to
create programs that benefit all customers and support EV adoption,
such as off-peak charging programs, incentives for charging station
installations, energy efficiency rebates, and consultative services
to encourage electrification.
In 2018, AEP Ohio launched a $10
million program to deploy 375 charging stations in
partnership with local governments, workplaces and multi-family
dwellings to increase publicly available charging sites and
demonstrate the benefit of public-private partnerships as part of
the Smart Columbus initiative. The program included a requirement
to locate 10% of the charging stations in low-income areas, a
benchmark that was exceeded.
In 2020, Indiana Michigan Power began offering its IM Plugged In
program to address residential, multi-family dwelling, fleet and
workplace charging, as well as corridor fast charging. The program
offers customers rebate programs that reduce EV charging
infrastructure costs and EV-specific off-peak rates.
Appalachian Power offers a residential off-peak charging program
for Virginia customers. Customers
also receive credits for EV charging that takes place during
off-peak periods, such as overnight.
Additionally, residential customers of Public Service Company of
Oklahoma and Southwestern Electric
Power Company in Louisiana and
Texas are eligible for energy
efficiency rebates on qualified EV chargers.
The Electric Highway Coalition welcomes interested utilities to
join as it seeks to extend the reach of network. Additionally, it
supports, and looks forward to working with, other regional utility
transportation corridor electrification initiatives.
American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is powering a cleaner,
brighter energy future for its customers and communities. AEP's
approximately 16,800 employees operate and maintain the nation's
largest electricity transmission system and more than 223,000 miles
of distribution lines to safely deliver reliable and affordable
power to 5.5 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is
one of the nation's largest electricity producers with
approximately 30,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity,
including more than 5,600 megawatts of renewable energy. The
company's plans include growing its renewable generation portfolio
to approximately 50% of total capacity by 2030. AEP is on track to
reach an 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 2000 levels
by 2030 and has committed to achieving net zero by 2050. AEP is
recognized consistently for its focus on sustainability, community
engagement, and diversity, equity and inclusion. AEP's family of
companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power
(in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in
Tennessee), Indiana Michigan
Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power
Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas
Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides
innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. For more
information, visit aep.com.
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SOURCE American Electric Power