Electric vehicle infrastructure expands in Ohio

As the demand for electric vehicles rises across the U.S., more businesses are working to install specialized electric vehicle, or EV, charging stations. But does the area have the infrastructure in place to meet the growing demand? As area residents and tourists prepare to traverse local roadways this summer, local and state officials discussed the state of EV infrastructure in the area. State efforts State officials, including Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks, said they are actively working to install EV charging stations across the state. "As more Ohioans adopt electric vehicles and the mix of automobiles on the road changes, we must ensure that our infrastructure is ready," Marchbanks said. In late 2023, the governor's office announced that it was the first state in the nation to break ground on multiple EV charging stations built as part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program. The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration created the electric vehicle program and said it will provide funding to states with the goal of "strategically deploying electric vehicle charging stations and establishing an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access and reliability." Ohio will receive $140 million in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure funds over the next five years, beginning this year. Breanna Badanes is the managing director of communications and policy for DriveOhio, an initiative to accelerate the growth of "smart vehicle" transportation in the state, which includes electric vehicles. Badanes said that the main purpose of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program is to create a consistent and reliable nationwide network of fast charging to eliminate anxiety, or the fear of running out of battery without a place to charge." "Fast chargers will be installed at least every 50 miles on interstates and major U.S. and state routes, giving EV drivers increased confidence in their ability to travel longer distances," Badanes said. She said that DriveOhio, through the $140 million in federal funding, plans to implement 23 EV charging stations in Ohio this year, with another 25 stations to follow. These stations are located at private businesses, Badanes said. Ohio's Department of Transportation will release requests for proposals that businesses can respond to. "This means, instead of purchasing land and/or equipment separately, we're looking for a private site like a gas station or retail business to partner with a charging equipment provider to propose a station," she said. "If a location is selected, 80% of the cost is covered by NEVI funds, and the remaining 20% match is contributed by the private proposer." Local demand Jeff Kerr, director of planning and land development for local economic and workforce development group Greater Sandusky Partnership, said the organization greatly supports the state's push toward EVs. Tesla electric vehicle charging stations line the edge of a lot near Meijer on Milan Road in Perkins Township on Friday, March 22, 2024. Register photo/ELIZABETH KEEFE "This initiative should be crucial for maintaining Sandusky-Erie County as a top destination, where the confidence and convenience of EV charging enhances the overall experience, ensuring that every visit is as seamless as it is memorable," Kerr said. Erie County currently has 10 locations that offer EV charging stations county-wide, according to data from the U.S. Department of Energy. One of the newest sets of charging stations to debut was at a Perkins Township car dealership. Rob Mathews, general sales manager for Mathews Ford, located at 610 Perkins Ave., began its project to install EV chargers at the dealership in August 2022 and worked with local contractors to install the stations. The dealership debuted its charging stations on Feb. 12. "We installed two level 3 180kw DC Fast Chargers with two ports each and two level 2 chargers with two ports each," Mathews said. Level 3 chargers recharge vehicles quicker than level 2 chargers. Badanes said that, like gas stations, EV stations require a cost to charge a vehicle which is based on a price set by the operator and electricity used per kilowatt hour. Mathews said that the dealership's charging stations are open to the public and can be used by all makes and models of electric vehicles. Seneca County Seneca County installed it's first EV charger in 2021 after receiving a grant from AEP Ohio. Charlene Watkins with Seneca Regional Planning explained "It's because Fostoria sits at the confluence of multiple state highways. We're right on all of these state routes. So, you're going to have travelers come through who are going to need an electric vehicle charging station, and they're going to pull up their app and say, 'Where can I charge my vehicle?' Boom, right here in downtown Fostoria! You can do it here." Nick Dutro, city administrator of Tiffin had this to say about the growth of electric vehicles: "I think that it's important for communities of any size to have amenities available for residents, students and visitors. Electric vehicle usage will only grow over time, so I'm proud that the City is able to provide DC Fast Charging units for public use." When asked about the construction of these EV stations in comparison to the construction of a gas station, Dutro said this: "The EV chargers in Tiffin were purchased through a $150,000 grant from AEP Ohio and $8,000 from a White Family Grant through the Tiffin Community Foundation. After about a year of the charger being in operation, the City of Tiffin charges users for the electricity used and collects a very small fee per use." Each EV requires about 30 kilowatt-hours (kWh) to travel 100 miles. Seneca County currently has over 10 public charging stations throughout Tiffin, Attica, Willard, and Fostoria. An electric vehicle explainer According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, an electric vehicle is powered entirely or partially by electricity, unlike traditional internal combustion engines that run on gasoline or diesel. EVs use an electric motor for propulsion, powered by electricity stored in rechargeable batteries or other energy storage devices. There are various forms of electric vehicles, including battery, plug-in and hybrid electric vehicles. List of EV charging stations by county Erie County • Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sandusky, 1515 Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky • Mathews Ford, 610 East Perkins Ave., Sandusky • Friendship Kitchen, 4024 Hayes Ave. (Ohio 4), Sandusky • Meijer, 4702 Milan Road (U.S. 250), Sandusky • Lewis Field, 6100 Columbus Ave., Sandusky • Motel 6 Sandusky-Huron, 601 Rye Beach Road, Huron • Valley Ford of Huron, 55 E. Cleveland Road, Huron • Strawberry Hill, 8606 Hayes Ave. (Ohio 4), Sandusky • Motel 6, 11406 N. U.S. 250, Milan, Milan • Milan Village charger, 1 W. Front St., Milan Huron County • EV City Charger Station 1, 30 W. Seminary St., Norwalk • EV City Charger Station 2, 38 Whittlesey Ave., Norwalk • KG Automotive Service Bay, 224 Milan Ave., Norwalk • Evans Cares, 314 E. Main St. (Ohio 61), Norwalk • HCCL Station 1, 213 S. Myrtle Ave., Willard • Gas Depot, 11 Akron St., New London Sandusky County • Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Museum, Spiegel Grove, Fremont • Steinle GMC Cadillac, 2149 W. State St., Fremont • Baumann Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM, 2577 W. State St., Fremont • HD Express Mart, 1559 U.S. 20, Clyde Ottawa County • Catawba Island Club, 4235 Beach Club Road, Port Clinton • Friendship Kitchen 70, 3800 E. State Road, Port Clinton • Port Clinton Ford, 2155 Gill Road, Port Clinton • 1804 E. Perry St., Port Clinton • Tri-Motor Sales, 1430 S. Ohio 19, Oak Harbor • Elmore Charger, 307 Maple St., Elmore • Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, 14000 W. Ohio 2, Oak Harbor Seneca County • Seneca County Commissioners, 111 Madison St., Tiffin • City of Tiffin Station 2, 90 S Washington St., Tiffin • Buckeye I.T. Services, 252 W. Market St., Tiffin • Tiffin Ford Lincoln, 2020 W. Market St., Tiffin • Coppus Motors Inside Station, 2190 W. Market St., Tiffin • Coppus Motors Outside Station, 2190 W. Market St., Tiffin • NCEC-Attica STATION 1, 13343 US 224, Attica • NCEC-Attica NCE-2, 350 Stump Pike Rd., Attica • HCCL Station 1, 213 S. Myrtle Ave., Willard • S Main Fostoria, 110 S. Main St., Fostoria • Reineke Ford, 1303 Perrysburg Rd., Fostoria • Dominos Pizza, 255 W. South St., Fostoria Source: U.S. Department of Energy