Austin Awarded Millions for Citywide EV Charging Expansion

The City of Austin is about to be even more unique. The state's capital will receive millions from the federal government in efforts to be more electric vehicle-friendly.

Austin Goes Electric

The Austin Energy: Charging & Fueling Infrastructure Access Project has recently been awarded a $15,000,000 grant from the federal government. According to the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Program Round 2 Grant Award Recipients document, the City of Austin (Austin Energy) will receive $15M to install a total of 284 new EV (electric vehicle) charging ports throughout the city.

The project description says the new charging ports will be installed at various public locations, including "multi-family dwellings, community centers, public schools, and other public facilities."

The purpose of this massive grant was to allow the project to fill the gaps in charging ports throughout low to moderate-income neighborhoods, rural areas, and underserved communities.

What Drives this Funded Project?

In a statement to My San Antonio, Austin Energy's Manager of Electric Vehicles & Emerging Technologies Cameron Freberg said that the federal grant was driven primarily by the heightened presence of EVs on Austin roads. To date, there are about 60,000 electric vehicles in the state's capital.

Freberg went on to say that "we are seeing not only our community adopt electric vehicles but an increase in other areas like fleet electrification as well."

My SA adds that this grant comes from the 2021 Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act that provides federal funding for improved highways, roads and safety programs in the U.S.

Along with the EV project being funded in Austin, the City of Houston was also awarded $24,760,305 in federal funding for a new hydrogen refueling station.