Midwest to house largest interstate electric vehicle charging network thanks to six energy companies

A new pledge from Ameren Illinois, Ameren Missouri, Consumers Energy, DTE Energy, Evergy, and Oklahoma Gas and Electric will bring the largest interstate electric vehicle charging network in the United States to the Midwest within two years.

These charging stations will enable customers throughout the region to range more freely, rather than worry about where they will charge up. According to the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), more than 1.5 million electric vehicles currently drive U.S. roads. Yet that number is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years, with vehicles reaching 18.7 million by 2030, requiring 9.6 million public charging stations for support. Unfortunately, only about 100,000 are available today.

“Expanding the use of electricity in transportation saves customers money, improves the environment by reducing emissions, and enhances quality of life for everyone,” EEI President Tom Kuhn said. “By deploying charging infrastructure and accelerating electric transportation, EEI’s member companies, including Ameren and the other companies collaborating on this initiative, are working together to build a cleaner and stronger economy for the future.”

Ameren is among those companies to have created carbon reduction goals and begin transitioning the transportation sector toward electric technology. It has joined EEI member companies across the United States in identifying ways to electrify its vehicle fleet, which currently takes the form of a pledge to buy only electric light-duty vehicles by 2030 and to have 35 percent of its total fleet electrified by 2030.

“Ameren Illinois has been implementing a modernization plan to prepare the grid for the increased customer demand for cleaner energy, including electric vehicles,” Richard Mark, chairman and president of Ameren Illinois, said. “Our focus in joining this multi-state coalition is to develop a charging infrastructure that will help reduce ‘range anxiety’ and lead to broader adoption of electric vehicles.”

Still, utility programs supporting the Memorandum of Cooperation — like those at Ameren’s companies — will be subject to regulatory approval.

“Ameren is committed to delivering a cleaner energy future for our customers, our communities and our country,” Warner Baxter, chairman, president and CEO of Ameren Corporation, said. “We are excited about this opportunity to work with other energy companies and lead in the clean electrification movement that will deliver long-term value to our customers and our nation.”