U.S. fuel retailers, truck stops push back against EV charging at rest areas
Three organizations representing about 90% of U.S. fuel retail sales are opposing INVEST in America Act provisions that would allow electric vehicle charging stations at rest areas.
“NATSO is disappointed that we must reject a federal highway bill for the second time because it contains the same harmful provisions that will discourage the private sector from making investments in electric vehicle charging infrastructure,” said Lisa Mullings, CEO of NATSO, which represents truck stop and travel plaza operators.
“NATSO wants to work with lawmakers to expand the market’s transition to alternative fuels, including EV charging. With a few key improvements to these provisions, NATSO and the entire retail fuel industry would otherwise be able to support this important legislation.”
The organizations claim allowing electric vehicle charging at interstate rest areas will discourage investment in such infrastructure at privately owned truck stops and travel plazas.
“The existing nationwide network of fuel retailing locations represents the best opportunity to quickly and efficiently bring charging options to market,” added David Fialkov, NATSO’s executive vice-president of government affairs.
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Do you forget who the Govt is and where they get their money? From US citizens – every dollar the Govt spends stops the free market from finding a less costly, more efficient way. These contractors when they get a Govt contract milk it for a life long meal ticket – look at Cal HSRail.
I also think it will take an government initiative of tax break and tax cuts to get the private sector to buy in. I also think Elon Musk will also initiate a truck charging program since Tesla truck recently started production.
The problem is that most big Truck Stop chains and filling stations in the United States are simply not investing in EV charging ! To my mind, the TruckStop chains have no room to complain because they have had lots of time to invest. Recently I’ve been entering Canadian EV charging station data on Spanish based Electromaps.com and was excited to see that Petro-Canada had installed EV charging at locations all along the Trans Canada Highway. No major Truck Stop chain in the USA has done anything like that!
The gov can do it cheaper because they do not need to make a profit. The cost of shore power and E charge for cars is much higher than what joint local gov and the local hydro companies charge in Ontario Canada. Also the gov can afford to spend more money to get land for parking lot than a private truck stop can.