Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Executive Summary:
- U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the first Binational Electric Vehicle (EV) Corridor, which will span from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Quebec City, Quebec, and will feature DC fast chargers roughly every 50 miles.
- The EV Corridor is part of a US-Canada commitment to harmonize EV charging standards and develop cross-border alternative fuel corridors.
- The Corridor will facilitate cross-border travel, making refueling or charging hassle-free, aiding in the achievement of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
- The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA/BIL) provides a commitment of $7.5 billion in federal funding for the construction of 500,000 public EV chargers.
- This move is in line with President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing, strengthening supply chains, and enhancing U.S. competitiveness by setting a goal for 50% of all new vehicle sales in the U.S. to be electric by 2030.
- The Corridor will also support Canada’s goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as one in ten new vehicles purchased in Canada is already a zero-emission vehicle.
Unedited Press Release Text:
DETROIT, MI – Today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined Canadian Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, and IBEW Member Bill Baisden to announce the first Binational Electric Vehicle (EV) Corridor, and to celebrate the continued collaboration between the U.S. and Canada to lead the world in electric vehicle jobs, manufacturing, and supply chains. The new EV corridor will stretch from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Quebec City, Quebec, tapping into the 75,000+ miles of Alternative Fuel Corridors in the United States. The Corridor will feature DC fast chargers approximately every 50 miles, or 80 kilometers.
Today’s announcements builds on President Biden’s March visit to Canada, where he and Prime Minister Trudeau committed to work together to harmonize EV charging standards and develop cross-border alternative fuel corridors between the U.S. and Canada, further strengthening the world’s largest market-based energy trading relationship.
“The U.S. and Canada have long enjoyed a productive partnership on transportation issues and in that spirit we are proud to announce the first-ever U.S.-Canada EV Corridor,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With historic investments in EV infrastructure from the Biden-Harris Administration and the Canadian government, we are creating a new generation of good-paying manufacturing jobs, making it possible for drivers everywhere to reap the benefits and savings of these vehicles while helping us fight climate change.”
“Canada and the United States have built the world’s largest market-based energy trading relationship, which provides a firm foundation as we strive to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions,” said Transport Minister Alghabra. This first cross-border alternative fuel corridor will help drivers to travel across the border and charge or refuel worry-free. It contributes to bringing us another step closer to making our air cleaner while helping people save money on traditional fuels.”
“There’s nothing more Pure Michigan than accidentally driving into Canada, and now that journey will be electric on either side of the border,” said Michigan Governor Whitmer. “I am proud that we are working together to build up electric vehicle charging infrastructure. With the resources headed our way from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the bold investments Michigan automakers are making right here in Michigan, we will build and lead the future of mobility.”
“Today’s announcement of the first U.S. Binational EV Corridor is a huge step into the future of zero-emissions transportation and commerce,” said Detroit Mayor Duggan. “This corridor will carry the flow of EV traffic, trade, and manufacturing between the United States and Canada, through the Detroit’s international crossing with Windsor. We owe our thanks to Sec. Buttigieg for his vision and President Biden for making this advancement possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”
“Cars have always been king here in the Motor City—and they still are,” said Bill Baisden, IBEW Local 58 member and the founder and owner of Dynamic Electrical Group. “In the past two years we have seen rapid growth in the residential EV charging market to meet the demand for electric vehicles, spurred by the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, and I’m proud to say IBEW members are on the front lines of this transition.”
While in Detroit, Secretary Buttigieg also hosted a conversation at the APEC summit about ensuring the benefits of an EV future reach all communities, from where federally-funded chargers are located, to how they are financed.
As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to boost domestic manufacturing, strengthen supply chains, boost U.S. competitiveness, and create good-paying jobs– growing the economy from the bottom up and middle out– the administration is making significant investments in our clean energy future and has set a goal of having 50 percent of all new vehicle sales in the U.S. be electric by 2030. This goal is supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, which have already spurred hundreds of billions of dollars in private sector investment in EV car and battery manufacturing.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law alone includes $7.5 billion in federal funding to help build a national network of 500,000 public EV chargers. Read more about progress being made on a reliable, convenient, and Made-in-America national network of EV chargers here.
In Canada, one in ten new vehicles purchased is already a zero-emission vehicle. Not only does the Binational EV Corridor facilitate the movement of passengers and goods through this key economic binational corridor, it also helps Canada to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
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