HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania is funding 12 new electric vehicle charging projects along major roadways as part of a statewide effort to expand charging access and support long-distance travel for EV drivers.
What This Means for You
- New fast-charging stations will be built along major highways across Pennsylvania.
- The projects aim to make long-distance EV travel easier by adding chargers between communities.
- Several charging stations will be located at familiar travel stops such as Sheetz, Wawa, and travel plazas.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced the new projects this week through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, commonly called NEVI — a federal initiative that provides funding to states to build fast-charging stations along key travel corridors.
PennDOT officials say the new awards build on roughly $54 million already committed to public EV charging stations across Pennsylvania.
So far, the state has built 30 NEVI-funded charging stations and has 53 additional stations in planning or construction stages.
Since the first station opened in Pennsylvania in December 2023, the network has supported more than 80,000 charging sessions, representing an estimated 9.6 million miles driven and more than 2,000 metric tons of reduced carbon dioxide emissions.
“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,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said.
New Charging Locations Across Pennsylvania
The newly funded projects will place charging stations along key travel routes across multiple counties.
Several locations will be built at travel stops commonly used by drivers, including Sheetz and Wawa convenience stores.
Among the projects announced:
Berks County:
- $825,958 for a Sheetz station in Fleetwood along Route 222 near mile marker 73.
Bradford County:
- $1,141,968 for a charging station at Dandy in Towanda along Route 6 near mile marker 178.
Cambria County:
- $1,121,968 for a Perkins location in Johnstown along Route 219 near mile marker 49.
- $825,958 for a Sheetz in Ebensburg along Route 22 near mile marker 100.
Lackawanna County:
- $661,584 for a Best Western Plus site in Clarks Summit along Route 6 near mile marker 328.
Lancaster County:
- $779,558 for a Sheetz in Landisville along Route 283 at Exit 26.
- $623,630 for a Sheetz in Willow Street along Route 222 near mile marker 24.
- $789,028 for a Wawa location in Lancaster along Route 222 near mile marker 29.
Lehigh County:
- $789,028 for a Wawa location in Allentown along Interstate 78 at Exit 57.
Northampton County:
- $789,028 for a Wawa location in Bethlehem along Interstate 78 at Exit 67.
Perry County:
- $525,474 for an Onvo Travel Plaza in Duncannon along Route 15 near mile marker 67.
Tioga County:
- $500,034 for an Onvo Travel Plaza in Mansfield along Route 6 near mile marker 271.
State Expanding Public EV Education
PennDOT also announced a new informational video series called “EVs In Focus” designed to provide data-driven explanations about electric vehicles.
The first videos address common questions about EV battery fires, electric grid capacity, and the environmental impact of EV production and use.
Officials say additional videos covering other EV-related topics are in development.
More Charging Grants Opening Soon
PennDOT is also accepting applications for additional funding through the NEVI Community Charging program.
The funding supports chargers located within communities rather than strictly along highway corridors.
Applications are currently open for the southeastern Pennsylvania region and will expand to other regions of the state in the coming weeks.
Organizations interested in developing EV charging sites can learn more or complete a partnership survey at www.pa.gov/evcommunity.
The state also noted that the U.S. Department of Transportation is currently withholding some federal funding that would support additional EV charging projects in Pennsylvania.
Governor Josh Shapiro has filed lawsuits challenging the federal action, arguing the funds were already approved by Congress and intended for EV charging construction across the Commonwealth.
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