Twenty-five new electric vehicle (EV) charging locations will be installed in Consumers Energy’s service territory in Michigan, thanks to federal investments that are helping to fuel growth in public EV-charging infrastructure.
More than 40 fast-charging EV locations—from Traverse City to Flint to Jackson—were recently selected to receive nearly $23 million in federal funding under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Consumers Energy, a member of the National Electric Highway Coalition, already has helped to install 54 fast-charging sites and more than 230 other public charging locations throughout its service territory.
“Consumers Energy is powering Michigan’s electric vehicle transformation by offering solutions that make EV driving convenient and affordable,” said Lauren Snyder, Consumers Energy’s vice president of customer experience. “Our support for public charging is improving the EV driving experience, giving people confidence they can power up quickly and affordably anytime they hit the road in Michigan.”
The number of public charging locations throughout Michigan has more than tripled during the last four years as EV sales continue to accelerate, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center. Consumers Energy today is powering more than 31,000 EVs statewide, a number that has grown 23 percent year over year. The company provides rebates for public charging through its PowerMIDrive program, part of its commitment to meeting EV drivers’ needs. In total, Consumers Energy has provided incentives for more than 6,000 EV chargers for homes, businesses, and public charging sites across the Lower Peninsula.
Last year, Consumers Energy kicked off an effort to promote EV charging for community and multifamily locations, meeting the needs of drivers who don’t have their own house or driveway. The energy provider also is working with school districts and has pledged to provide EVs to seven service organizations to help ensure Michigan’s EV transformation is fair and equitable for everyone.
“Despite what some pundits may claim, more and more electric vehicles are continuing to show up on Michigan roads,” Snyder said. “Consumers Energy has an important role to safely and reliably charge EVs in our communities. We’re making sure Michigan—the birthplace of America’s auto industry—is in the driver’s seat for the next generation of clean, zero-emissions vehicles.”
