Five Midwestern US states are joining forces to improve access to EV charging across the regions.
The governors of Illinois, Indian, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have all signed a memorandum of understanding to create the Regional Electric Vehicle Midwest Coalition or REV Midwest.
It’s hoped that the coalition will create a regional framework to accelerate vehicle electrification in the Midwest. “REV Midwest provides the foundation for cooperation on fleet electrification along key commercial corridors to safeguard economic security, reduce harmful emissions, improve public health, and advance innovation,” reads the memorandum.
“Today’s REV Midwest partnership is a bipartisan effort to build the future of mobility and electrification and connect our communities,” says Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in a statement.
“Our partnership will enable the Midwest to lead on electric vehicle adoption, reduce carbon emissions, spur innovation, and create good-paying jobs,” she adds.
At first, REV Midwest will be looking to accelerate commercial electrification over private cars.
“Through REV Midwest, participating states will remove barriers to Medium- and Heavy-Duty adoption through coordination on charging infrastructure optimization, cooperation on best practices to standardize regulatory schemes, communications, and charging experience,” reads the memorandum.
The participating states are all required to maintain a taskforce of senior leadership and will meet regularly to share updates and learnings.
“The Midwest has the ingenuity and the drive to develop innovative solutions to curb climate change,” says Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
“I am proud to work with my fellow Midwest governors to not only reduce pollution, but protect public health, create jobs, and increase consumer choice across the region.”
Indiana is the only state in the group to have a Republican governor, Eric Holcomb. “I’m proud to partner with our neighboring states,” says Holcomb, “to put the Midwest region on the leading edge of providing the charging infrastructure needed to futureproof our transportation network and meet the demand as rapid adoption of electric vehicles continues.”
Keyword: Five Midwest States to Cooperate on Electrification Plans