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- [Narrator] The use of electric vehicles, or EVs,
is growing in Texas.
Some estimates state that over half the vehicles on the road
could be electric-powered by 2040.
The Texas Department of Transportation
and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute
researched ways to develop
the charging infrastructure needed for EVs
to better serve drivers now and in the future.
- The research was needed due to the rapid growth
of electric vehicle adoption, or EVs,
and the need for Texas to develop
a comprehensive EV charging infrastructure readiness plan.
- Nobody really knows exactly where it is growing.
Like we always know, you know, where it happened,
but trying to predict where it's going to be growing
and how much growth there will be, it is clear that,
you know, Texas has a need for adequate
and comprehensive coverage of EV charging infrastructure.
- This was also driven by federal initiatives,
like the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program,
or NEVI, and the need to prepare for increased EV usage
across the state.
- If you look at it from a high level,
it's really key that in this area of research,
EV charging infrastructure
and the implementation of that infrastructure,
it takes a large group of stakeholders
to make that successful.
And this is a group of stakeholders
who have not really interacted much in the past.
- [Ryan] We brought together
metropolitan planning organizations,
TxDOT, and other stakeholders,
and we were able to hear some of their views
on what was important to them for the future of EVs
in the state of Texas.
- [Edgar] We would ask them about their issues
and trying to find common solutions or ideas
for strategies to work on these future problems.
We also contacted other peer states,
so we wanted to learn about their programs and approaches
to EV charging infrastructure implementation.
- [Ryan] Benefits include providing TxDOT
with a comprehensive understanding
of EV infrastructure needs, stakeholder concerns,
and policy considerations.
This will help the department make informed decisions
about EV charging infrastructure deployment,
potentially improving access for Texas drivers,
and supporting the transition to electric vehicles.
- We're continuing in these new work groups,
and hopefully, addressing some of the future issues
that we'll focus on, you know, freight, fleet,
and multi-unit housing charging and so on.
And there's some bigger issues that
I think have a more pressing need.
For example, looking into how we deal
with electric vehicles in emergency situations.
Like for example, if you had like a hurricane event
in Houston, how can you evacuate?
A lot of people that have electric vehicles,
if you suddenly have the electric supply gets knocked out.
- [Narrator] For more information
and to find the publication for this project,
please visit the TxDOT Research Library
at the link shown below.