The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has announced new funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the state, including a project in Berks County aimed at expanding access for drivers traveling along major corridors.
The Shapiro Administration on Tuesday announced that 12 projects statewide will receive a combined $9 million through the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Corridor Connections program. The funding supports the construction of EV charging stations along key travel routes to help drivers recharge between longer trips.
In Berks County, $825,958 has been awarded to Sheetz in Fleetwood, located along Route 222, to install new EV charging stations.
PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said the projects will help bridge the gap between long-distance travel and local charging availability.
“These projects will expand access to electric vehicle charging from our alternative fuel connections and bridge the gap between long-distance travel and community based chargers,” Carroll said. “This is a critical step to improving relatability and access to meet the needs of EV drivers in the Commonwealth.”
The newly funded projects build on $54 million already invested in public EV charging stations across Pennsylvania through the NEVI program. According to PennDOT, the state has already constructed 30 NEVI-funded charging stations, leading the nation in stations built using the program. Another 53 stations are currently in planning or construction.
Since Pennsylvania’s first NEVI station opened in December 2023, the charging sites have supported more than 80,000 charging sessions, enabling an estimated 9.6 million miles of electric driving and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 2,000 metric tons, according to PennDOT.
The Fleetwood project is one of several awarded across Pennsylvania, with additional stations planned in counties including Lancaster, Lehigh, Northampton, Cambria, and Lackawanna.
PennDOT also announced the launch of a new educational video series, “EVs In Focus,” aimed at addressing common misconceptions about electric vehicles. Topics include EV battery fire risks, the capacity of the electric grid to support EV growth, and the environmental impact of electric vehicles throughout their lifecycle.
Additional funding opportunities for community-based EV charging stations are expected to open in other regions of Pennsylvania in the coming weeks.