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(thoughtful music)

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(logo whooshes)

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(thoughtful music)

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- [Narrator] The use of
electric vehicles, or EVs,

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is growing in Texas.

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Some estimates state that over
half the vehicles on the road

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could be electric-powered by 2040.

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The Texas Department of Transportation

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and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute

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researched ways to develop

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the charging infrastructure needed for EVs

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to better serve drivers
now and in the future.

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- The research was needed
due to the rapid growth

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of electric vehicle adoption, or EVs,

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and the need for Texas to develop

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a comprehensive EV charging
infrastructure readiness plan.

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- Nobody really knows
exactly where it is growing.

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Like we always know, you
know, where it happened,

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but trying to predict where
it's going to be growing

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and how much growth there
will be, it is clear that,

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you know, Texas has a need for adequate

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and comprehensive coverage of
EV charging infrastructure.

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- This was also driven
by federal initiatives,

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like the National Electric
Vehicle Infrastructure Program,

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or NEVI, and the need to
prepare for increased EV usage

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across the state.

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- If you look at it from a high level,

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it's really key that in
this area of research,

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EV charging infrastructure

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and the implementation
of that infrastructure,

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it takes a large group of stakeholders

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to make that successful.

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And this is a group of stakeholders

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who have not really
interacted much in the past.

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- [Ryan] We brought together

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metropolitan planning organizations,

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TxDOT, and other stakeholders,

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and we were able to
hear some of their views

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on what was important to
them for the future of EVs

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in the state of Texas.

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- [Edgar] We would ask
them about their issues

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and trying to find
common solutions or ideas

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for strategies to work
on these future problems.

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We also contacted other peer states,

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so we wanted to learn about
their programs and approaches

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to EV charging infrastructure
implementation.

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- [Ryan] Benefits include providing TxDOT

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with a comprehensive understanding

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of EV infrastructure needs,
stakeholder concerns,

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and policy considerations.

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This will help the department
make informed decisions

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about EV charging
infrastructure deployment,

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potentially improving
access for Texas drivers,

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and supporting the transition
to electric vehicles.

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- We're continuing in
these new work groups,

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and hopefully, addressing
some of the future issues

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that we'll focus on, you
know, freight, fleet,

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and multi-unit housing charging and so on.

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And there's some bigger issues that

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I think have a more pressing need.

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For example, looking into how we deal

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with electric vehicles
in emergency situations.

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Like for example, if you
had like a hurricane event

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in Houston, how can you evacuate?

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A lot of people that
have electric vehicles,

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if you suddenly have the
electric supply gets knocked out.

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- [Narrator] For more information

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and to find the publication
for this project,

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please visit the TxDOT Research Library

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at the link shown below.