Gov. Andy Beshear on Friday announced the first round of awards for developers to design, build, operate and maintain a statewide network of EV charging stations.
Nearly $11 million in public and private funding is being awarded under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program to support the construction of 16 electric vehicle charging stations across the state. The majority of stations will be in Western Kentucky — including one in Hopkinsville, which will be located at Starbucks, at the intersection of Fort Campbell Boulevard and Clinic Drive.
“With 21 projects in the electric vehicle sector announced so far during my administration, we have solidified Kentucky as the EV battery production capital of the United States,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a press release. “With so much EV production happening right here in the commonwealth, we want Kentuckians to be able to reap the benefits. Today, we are taking a major step forward on our mission to have a statewide electric vehicle charging network.”
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Charging stations included in the initial funding round will be located along 11 Alternative Fuel Corridor groups, under an implementation plan approved by the Federal Highway Administration. Each charging station must have at least four chargers and be accessible to the public around the clock, according to the release.
A second set of contract proposals is awaiting review. An estimated 37 stations will be needed to build out Kentucky’s portion of the federal program.
The charging station won’t be Hopkinsville’s first. Connections for charing electronic vehicles are currently located at Sudden Service Gas Station, Toyota of Hopkinsville, Sisk Nissan, Casey Jones Distillery, Bluecreek South Medical Office Building and Holiday Inn & Suites.
EV charging stations in Hopkinsville
| Location | Address | Connectors | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sudden Service Gas Station | 514 E. 9th St. | 2 – J1772 | Free |
| Toyota of Hopkinsville | 4395 Fort Campbell Blvd. | 2 – J1772 | First hour is free, then $2/hour |
| Sisk Nissan | 10800 Eagle Way | 1 – J1772 & 1 – DC Fast | Free |
| Casey Jones Distillery | 2815 Witty Lane | 2 – J1772 | Free |
| Bluecreek South Medical Office Building | 10755 Eagle Way | 2 – J1772 | Free |
| Holiday Inn & Suites | 100 Tilley Way | 1 – J1772 & 2 – Tesla | Free (for registered guests only) |
Hopkinsville has seen a wave of EV-related manufacturing development in the last year.
Last week, Beshear was in Hopkinsville for a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the $225 million Toyota Boshoku “smart manufacturing” facility being built in Hopkinsville.
Ascend Elements announced last month that it plans to build a $65 million lithium-ion battery recyling plant at Hopkinsville’s Commerce Park II. The 100,000-square-foot plant will create about 60 jobs and supply material to Ascend Element’s $1 billion facility currently under construction, also at Commerce Park II.
Julia Hunter is the engagement editor for Hoptown Chronicle. Reach her at julia@hoptownchronicle.org.
