RICHMOND — Virginians are buying more electric vehicles and need more charging stations but they are not being built across the state equally.
House Bill 1791 would create the Electric Vehicle Rural Infrastructure Fund to help private developers install charging stations.
Del. Rip Sullivan, D-Fairfax County, sponsored the bill and said federal efforts to build charging stations focus on areas on or within a mile of an interstate. While it makes sense, he argued rural areas should not be left out of the transition to electric vehicles.
“The bill is sort of rooted in the notion that all Virginians and all parts of Virginia should be participating in the transition to clean energy and to clean cars,” Sullivan explained.
Sullivan added an increase in charging stations in rural areas would help those traveling through communities and increase tourism. Last month, the president of the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association called for more charging stations for electric vehicles in rural areas.
This will be the fourth time Sullivan has introduced the legislation. The first two times, the bill did not make it into the budget. Last year, the legislation reached the House of Delegates budget but not the state Senate’s. He is hopeful the bill will cross the finish line, with $25 million for the fund. This year’s bill emphasizes building charging stations around state and national parks in the Commonwealth to increase tourism.
“We’re glad a lot of people come into Virginia but we got people coming in from all over the country, certainly neighboring states and many of them will be driving an EV,” Sullivan pointed out. “We want those who are driving EVs to feel comfortable that they’ll be able to charge their cars when they come visit us here in Virginia.”
The Virginia Automobile Dealers Association saw a 49% increase in electric vehicles purchased in 2023. Last year, electric vehicles accounted for nearly 9% of all new vehicles sold in the Commonwealth.
