RI first in country to achieve electric vehicle infrastructure milestone

"This accomplishment offers efficient and convenient charging options that enable both Rhode Islanders and travelers to embrace electric vehicle travel with confidence."

From a press release:

The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER), in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the United States DOT/Federal Highway Administration, and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, celebrated Rhode Island's groundbreaking achievement as the first state in the nation to complete Phase 1 of the alternative fuel corridor under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program. The milestone was marked with a ribbon-cutting event at the Route 117 Park & Ride in Warwick.

Here’s the video:

Launched in December 2023, Phase 1 of the NEVI Program aimed to install a total of four new Level 3 Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC) along Interstate 95 - two at the Warwick Park & Ride and two at the Ashaway Park & Ride in Hopkinton. The ChargePoint Express Plus Power Link PL2000 series chargers, manufactured by ChargePoint and installed by Maverick Corporation, can charge an electric vehicle up to 80 percent in 20 to 40 minutes. The collaboration and support of Rhode Island Energy were instrumental in successfully implementing this project. Now completed, these additions continue to support and expand upon Rhode Island’s growing EV charging infrastructure.  

Currently, there are a total of eight DCFCs and six Dual-Port Level 2 charging stations strategically located along the Alternative Fuel Corridor on Interstate 95 in Rhode Island. This accomplishment offers efficient and convenient charging options that enable both Rhode Islanders and travelers to embrace electric vehicle travel with confidence.  

“The completion of NEVI Phase 1 marks a milestone moment in Rhode Island's commitment to a greener and more sustainable future,” said Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee. “By creating the infrastructure for cleaner transportation alternatives, we're not only working towards our Act on Climate goals but leading the charge to decrease our carbon footprint. I'm grateful to the private and public partners who came together on this project that demonstrates our state’s continued commitment to enhancing our state’s EV charging infrastructure and the green economy.”

“If you look at that sign, it says the word bipartisan, and that's the way you get things done,” said Rhode Island Speaker of the House Joe Shekarchi. “You have to work together. And it's not just inter-party, it's with the opposition. You need to work with every level of government. I have said this many times before, I'll continue to say it. Our federal delegation is incredibly well respected and they deliver great results to Rhode Island. Working with the Governor and our partners in the Senate, we work hard together, and it's only when you work together can you accomplish things. I believe we are one of the first, if not the first in the country to institute this program and start it so early. It's because we're all working together.”

“We need to make electric vehicle charging as easy as filling up at the gas station. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $7.5 billion in electric charging infrastructure, including nearly $23 million for Rhode Island,” said United States Senator Jack Reed. “The work we are celebrating today shows how Rhode Island has begun putting that money to use improving electric vehicle charging along major highways like I-95, as well as in communities and neighborhoods throughout the state.”

“Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will make it much more convenient to drive an EV,” said United States Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a senior member of the Environment and Public Works Committee. “After all my work to get EV charging station funding into the original highway bill and then the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, it’s happy news that Rhode Island is the first state to reach this milestone, putting the Ocean State well on its way to a clean energy future.”

“Clean energy is the future, and with the completion of this first phase, Rhode Island is once again leading the nation in the transition to an affordable, clean energy economy,” said Representative Seth Magaziner. “This milestone will deliver cleaner air for Rhode Islanders.”

“The Federal Highway Administration is pleased to celebrate Rhode Island’s achievement in building out its NEVI-funded EV charging stations made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. “With over 187,000 publicly available EV charging ports at stations across the country, nearly double the amount when President Biden took office, the Biden-Harris Administration is on track to achieve the President’s goal of building a national network of 500,000 publicly available EV chargers ahead of schedule.” 

“Rhode Island is leading the charge when it comes to quick and efficient deployment of convenient charging that helps residents and visitors get where they need to go, emission-free,” said Gabe Klein, Executive Director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. “These stations provide convenient and reliable charging along the full length of Rhode Island’s designated I-95 EV charging corridor giving the state the flexibility to continue expanding its EV charging network along additional corridors and in communities so anyone can choose to ride or drive electric in the Ocean State." 

“NEVI Phase 1 is a significant step toward achieving our transportation emission reduction efforts in advancing our Act on Climate objectives,” said Acting OER Commissioner Chris Kearns. “OER is now looking to move forward to Phase 2 of the NEVI program to deploy additional charging stations on both public and private parking lots to continue to advance the increase in electric vehicle adoption in Rhode Island.”

“Rhode Island is ahead of the curve in providing the infrastructure for not only electric vehicles but also plug-in hybrid electric vehicles,” said Peter Alviti, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation. “With the completion of phase one, and with our coordinating charging stations in Massachusetts and Connecticut, we can proudly say that electric vehicle owners can confidently cross our state. And we can say that our infrastructure gives potential EV purchasers a reason to buy and drive EVs and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.”

Considering the results of the NEVI Survey, Phase 2 will be designed to address the needs of public and private entities adequately. It is anticipated that Phase 2 will begin in the Fall of 2024, further expanding EV charging infrastructure across public roads and other accessible locations. 

Signed by President Joe Biden in November 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) provides states with $7.5 billion to help make EV charging more accessible to all Americans for local and long-distance trips. This $7.5 billion comprises the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program and the $2.5 Discretionary Grant Program for Charging and Fueling Infrastructure. Rhode Island has been allocated a total of $22.9 million in dedicated formula funding over five years. 

Stay updated with RI NEVI Project news and developments here.