This story was first published Dec. 17, 2022 and has been updated.
The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Council of Governments (OKI) is in the early stages of building a Greater Cincinnati electric vehicle charging network.
CEO Mark Policinski anticipates about 100 additional charging stations.
"The network’s got to be robust," he said last December. "There can't be like, 'OK, we’re going to have 14 chargers in the region.' It’s got to be immense. So how do we stretch that money? We're looking for funding partners; maybe jurisdictions have to come up with a local match. If we have a goal of putting 100 chargers in this region, I don't think that's unrealistic."
Most of the money comes from the federal infrastructure law. OKI has grants totalling $2.5 million.
The network will be a mix of high-speed and regular chargers. Policinski explains the high-speed ones could cost $100,000 more than the regular ones.
Where will the new ones be located?
CVG is getting funding for four fast-charging stations at the rideshare vehicle staging lot on Lincoln Road.
3CDC has received funding for Level 2 EV charging stations at five parking facilities in Over-the-Rhine and the Central Business District: Washington Park Garage, Mercer Garage, 1400 Vine Surface Lot, Fountain Square Garage and Fifth and Race Garage.
The city of Covington will have a mix of Level 2 and fast chargers at four garages: Rivercenter, Mid-town, Pershing lot and Philadelphia Street.
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Hamilton gets enough funding for four fast chargers at the city's Public Works facility and Compress Natural Gas filling station, and two at its 141 Market Street parking lot.
There will be two fast charging stations at the Green Township Government Complex parking lot next to Veteran's Park.
The Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services will place four Level 2 chargers at the Civic Center Drive location.
Separately, the state of Ohio is using infrastructure money it got to install high-speed charging stations every 50 miles along interstates.
WVXU reported on that plan in July.
OKI’s Policinski says, "We are putting together this plan in which we are going to put out pilot projects to see how it works, what works, how much usage there is."
Duke Energy is a partner in this project.
"Duke Energy appreciates OKI’s broader vision around the electrification of transportation and is pleased to be one of its partners in discussing and planning for more EV infrastructure in our region," said Amy Spiller, president for Duke in Ohio and Kentucky, in an email to WVXU.
She goes on to say, "As the adoption of EVs becomes more prevalent, it is important that charging stations to be readily available and accessible to all. But it is also important that the electric grid reliably support all load on the system, including new EV charging load. We look forward to our continuing partnership with OKI, as our early participation in the planning process is vital."
The project is expected to take four to five years.
