The Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies, today announced the formation of the National Electric Highway Coalition. The new entity merges the Electric Highway Coalition and the Midwest Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Collaboration and now includes additional participating electric companies from across the U.S. Currently consisting of 51 investor-owned electric companies, one electric cooperative, and the Tennessee Valley Authority, the coalition is committed to providing fast charging ports that will allow the public to drive EVs (electric vehicles) with confidence along major U.S. travel corridors by the end of 2023.

“EEI and our member companies are leading the clean energy transformation, and electric transportation is key to reducing carbon emissions across our economy,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn. “With the formation of the National Electric Highway Coalition, we are committed to investing in and providing the charging infrastructure necessary to facilitate electric vehicle growth and to helping alleviate any remaining customer range anxiety.”

To date, EEI’s member companies have invested more than $3 billion in customer programs and projects to deploy EV charging infrastructure and accelerate electric transportation. As EV sales continue to grow, EEI estimates that more than 100,000 EV fast-charging ports will be needed to support the projected 22 million EVs that will be on U.S. roads in 2030.

“By merging and expanding the existing efforts underway to build fast-charging infrastructure along major travel corridors, we are building a foundational EV charging network that will help to encourage more customers to purchase an electric vehicle,” added Kuhn. “We owe a great deal of gratitude to the electric companies that created so much momentum at the regional level, paving the way for us to expand this effort nationally.”

The collaboration brings together regional and national scopes to develop a framework and provide charging stations across state boundaries.

“EV owners want to charge conveniently and quickly without a fear of running out of electric fuel,” said Alliance for Transportation Electrification Executive Director Philip B. Jones. “Moreover, the EV industry—led by electric companies and cooperatives, automobile OEMs, and EV service providers—need to accelerate the deployment of charging infrastructure now.

“With scores of new battery-electric vehicles coming to market over the next couple of years, we need to get the charging infrastructure sited, built, and funded,” continued Jones. “The federal infrastructure funding will help a great deal in this effort, but this is only a down payment of a much larger effort. Electric companies, which are regulated by state commissions, can help leverage all funding sources, help fill the infrastructure gaps, and help manage the deployment of these chargers with a long-term view.”

Nationally, there are more than 2 million EVs on U.S. roads today, according to the Edison Electric Institute. That number should grow to 18.7 million by 2030, with EV sales expected to top 3.5 million per year.

With a big increase in the number of EV models expected to be available in the next few years, the National Electric Highway Coalition will support the EV transition by facilitating electric power industry engagement in transportation electrification across the country.

“The auto industry is committed to vehicle electrification and will invest over $330 billion in the technology by 2025,” said Alliance for Automotive Innovation President and CEO John Bozzella. “…This, however, is only one piece of the puzzle. Addressing issues such as grid resiliency, energy demands for charging, and equitable rollout of charging infrastructure will be an integral part of a successful future for EVs in America.”

EEI member companies are playing their part, electrifying their own fleets. Collectively, they are on track to electrify more than one-third of their fleet vehicles by 2030. Electric companies also remain engaged with commercial fleet customers and are working together on electrification planning for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

Some forward-thinking electric utilities are thinking even more broadly in working toward an EV future. A prime example is in Michigan, where coalition member Consumers Energy has already powered 33 EV fast-charging locations in its service territory, which spans most of the state’s Lower Peninsula outside metro Detroit (see Michigan map).

Last month, Consumers Energy demonstrated is taking its leadership of Michigan’s EV transformation to another level, committing to powering 1 million electric vehicles by 2030. The goal would dramatically accelerate Michigan’s preparation for the next generation of clean, zero-emissions vehicles and support the auto industry’s goal to have electric vehicles be 50% of new sales by 2030.

“Consumers Energy is committed to Michigan’s EV transformation, and all the road signs show an all-electric automotive future is moving closer to becoming a reality,” said Lauren Youngdahl Snyder, Consumers Energy’s Vice President of Customer Experience. “Michigan is doing the right things when it comes to manufacturing EVs and making ownership convenient, and we’re confident we can ensure our state is ready for this transformation.”

Today, there are about 12,000 registered EVs in Consumers Energy’s territory, and EV sales already have been growing by 20% annually. Youngdahl Snyder noted that more EVs also can lower electric rates for all customers as drivers charge during off-peak hours, typically overnight when there is less demand for electricity.

Consumers Energy has a number of programs helping to enable significant EV growth. Through its PowerMIDrive program, the company has provided over 1000 rebates for home, business, and public charging stations—including 30 fast-charging locations. It plans to power the growing demand for EVs with 200 fast-charging locations, and over 2000 chargers at homes and businesses, across Michigan over the next three years. Its Bring Your Own Charger program allows EV owners to receive energy savings and monthly rebates for charging at night.