Arizona has flipped the switch on its first three federally funded electric vehicle charging stations, with new chargers now live in Green Valley, Tucson and Wellton. Two more stations are on the way later this year along Interstate 40, in Seligman and Holbrook, according to the state's transportation agency.
The announcement came Wednesday from the Arizona Department of Transportation
The post announced that the stations had opened.
ADOT had previously announced plans for 18 EV fast-charging stations across the state. Those stations were described as privately owned and operated, with federal dollars covering 80 percent of construction costs and private developers footing the remaining 20 percent, the outlet reported. No state funds were expected to go toward construction, since the money comes through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, known as NEVI.
Conflicting Counts Reflect a Program Built in Phases
Arizona's broader EV charging push includes plans for 21 new or upgraded interstate charging stations, alongside an 18-location first phase.
The numbers climb further out. A second solicitation covering 34 additional stations along state highways has also been described, and a proposed third phase would add roughly 21 stations across nine new corridor segments, according to the same Tucson.com report. Elsewhere, the statewide plan has been characterized as targeting more than 70 stations, while EV Infrastructure News has pegged the eventual goal at as many as 74 charging stations, tied to a $76.5 million federal NEVI funding package Arizona is set to receive. The discrepancies likely stem from different phases and scopes of the same evolving program, though the available reporting does not fully reconcile the figures.
Spacing Rules and Charging Speeds Built Into the Design
The federally backed stations are generally meant to be spaced no more than 50 miles apart. The earlier interstate buildout included stations planned along I-10, I-8, I-40 and I-17, and contracts for 18 stations date to August 2024.
Stations have generally been planned for installation at existing gas stations, travel centers, restaurants or hotels, GCMAZ/KAFF reported.
What's Next for the Buildout
A second-phase solicitation covered 34 additional stations. For now, drivers passing through Green Valley, Tucson and Wellton have three working stations to rely on, with Seligman and Holbrook next in line before the year is out, per ADOT's announcement.
