As more drivers contemplate the switch to electric vehicles, one of the greater challenges is knowing there will be charging stations along the route. Ohio is working on a plan for that, though there are questions to be answered.

DriveOhio’s plan requires public input — and soon. Using federal infrastructure funding, DriveOhio hopes to install DC electric vehicle chargers every 50 miles along Ohio’s interstates. The $10,000 to $40,000 chargers can charge 80% of a vehicle battery in fewer than 20 minutes — and the state is set to get more than $100 million over the next five years to have them installed.

Links to the draft National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure plan and a way to submit candidate locations for EV Fast charging stations can be found here: drive.ohio.gov/about-driveohio/electric/nevi.

There are five possible locations for charging stations in our region along I-70: Exit 208, Morristown; Exit 213, Flushing; Exit 215, St. Clairsville; Exit 218, Ohio Valley Mall; and Exit 225, Bridgeport.

Again, there is much to be ironed out in this process. But if the determination to spend has already been made, local residents had better make their voices heard, via the means provided by DriveOhio and the DOT.