LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — On Friday, the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) announced an expansion to the state's electric vehicle infrastructure (NEVI) thanks to money awarded through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program.
19 different NEVI Program projects, tallying $14,916,000, were awarded to 16 different counties statewide.
According to ARDOT, the NEVI Program "provides funding for projects to build a national network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations by 2030 along federally designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFC)."
Here's a list of the NEVI program 2023 awarded proposals:
- Clark County—Caddo Valley Pilot Travel Center; Interstate 30 ($581,000)
- Hot Spring County—Malvern Love's Travel Stops; Interstate 30 ($753,000)
- Conway County—Morrilton Casey's; Interstate 40 ($987,000)
- Crawford County—Alma Cracker Barrel; Interstate 40 ($479,000)
- Crittenden County—West Memphis Petro Travel Center; Interstate 40 ($943,000)
- Crittenden County—West Memphis Cracker Barrel; Interstate 40 ($516,000)
- Faulkner County—Conway Cracker Barrel; Interstate 40 ($516,000)
- Lonoke County—Lonoke Circle K; Interstate 40 ($498,000)
- Pope County—Russellville Flying J Travel Center; Interstate 40 ($668,000)
- Prairie County—Hazen Love's Travel Stops; Interstate 40 ($700,000)
- Crawford County—Alma Love's Travel Stops; Interstate 49 ($753,000)
- Miller County—Texarkana EZ Mart; Interstate 49 ($635,000)
- Mississippi County—Blytheville Holiday Inn; Interstate 55 ($1,068,000)
- Mississippi County—Osceola Jordan's Kwik Shop; Interstate 55 ($1,068,000)
- Jefferson County—Pine Bluff Southern Edge Truck Stop & Eatery; Interstate 530 ($1,753,000)
- Jefferson County—White Hall Holiday Inn; Intestate 530 ($597,000)
- Craighead County—Jonesboro Love's Travel Stop; Interstate 555 ($700,000)
- Poinsett County—Trumann Flash Market 17023; Interstate 555 ($637,000)
- Benton County—Siloam Springs Jiffy Trip; Highway 412 ($1,116,000)
ARDOT said the program provides funding to state transportation departments from 2022-26 to "strategically deploy EV charging station infrastructure." Additionally, it is a reimbursement-type program that provides a maximum of 80% federal and 20% private share.
NEVI Program funding will be used in Arkansas to fund EV charging station infrastructure projects that:
- Meet all federal and ARDOT NEVI Program requirements
- Are located on designated EV AFCs or intestates
ARDOT said the money awarded through the NEVI Program can "only be used for EV charging infrastructure" and consists of only federal aid, not state tax dollars.