FirstEnergy Corp. in Akron, Ohio, has joined more than a dozen electric companies that are building a network of fast-charging electric vehicle stations along highway routes in much of the eastern half of the United States.
The Electric Highway Coalition, established in March with six members, including American Electric Power in Columbus, has added eight more members, according to a FirstEnergy press release.
The group's 14 members — representing 29 states and the District of Columbia and serving more than 60 million customers — have committed to growing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations within their service territories to ensure seamless travel routes, FirstEnergy said.
"Joining the EHC will help expand our ability to provide customers with opportunities to utilize electric vehicles in their everyday lives," said Meghan Beringer, FirstEnergy's director of emerging technologies strategy, in the release.
The Edison Electric Institute estimates 18 million EVs will be on U.S. roads by 2030. While many drivers recognize the benefits of driving an electric vehicle, some are concerned with the availability of charging stations during long road trips.
Members of the Electric Highway Commission are trying to address this "range anxiety," FirstEnergy said.
The United States marked the millionth sale of an electric vehicle in October 2018. In a report, the Edison Electric Institute projected that a second million vehicles would be on U.S. roads by early this year, reaching 18 million vehicles in 2030.
"America's electric companies are leading efforts to promote electric vehicles," said Tom Kuhn, president of the electric institute, at his organization's website.
"EEI's member companies have invested more than $1 billion in customer programs and projects to deploy charging infrastructure and to accelerate electric transportation, and we fully expect that number to continue to rise," Kuhn said.
FirstEnergy is talking with regulators and legislators in the states it serves to help support the expansion of EV infrastructure, the utility said.
The Akron utility also is taking steps to electrify its own vehicle fleet of aerial and light-duty trucks with electric or hybrid vehicles, it said.
Because utilities know the nation's electrical grid, they are positioned to help ensure EV programs are effective from operational and cost standpoints, FirstEnergy said.
Photo provided through a license by Creative Commons.
