Arizona plans to get more than $76.5 million over the next five years as part of a national electric vehicle infrastructure program. The Arizona Department of Transportation plans to add public charging stations along interstate highways, and utility companies are preparing for more cars that rely on the power grid. 

The number of Arizona Public Service customers with electric vehicles has risen exponentially in the last five years. It has risen from 5,000 to 25,000.  

Bobby Olsen, senior director for Salt River Project, said they’re also seeing growth, “We expect that we’ll have nearly 70,000 electric vehicles in our service territory by 2025 and what I would say is we’re well on our way and actually ahead of our goals.” 

Arizona is among 35 plans submitted by states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to be approved under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, also known as NEVI.  

The $5 billion nationwide program was created and funded through the infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.  

Arizona’s NEVI Deployment Plan also includes upgrades to existing charging stations and installing new ones within the state.