On March 2, 2021, the Electric Highway Coalition, which was formed by six utilities in the Southeast and Midwest, announced a plan to enable long distance electric vehicle (EV) travel by creating a network of direct current fast charging (DCFC) stations connecting major highway systems in the Midwest, South, Gulf, and Central Plains regions.[1] According to the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), there will be 18 million EVs in the U.S. by 2030. Currently, one of the major concerns of drivers when it comes to EVs is the availability of charging stations during long road trips.

The Electric Highway Coalition includes Duke Energy, American Electric Power (AEP), Dominion Energy, Entergy Corporation, Southern Company and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Each of the utilities have committed to providing EV fast charging options within their service territories to facilitate interstate travel. Sites near major highways that have easy highway access and amenities are being considered. DCFC stations will allow drivers to get back on the road in about 20-30 minutes. The utilities will coordinate with one another to prevent overlap of charging infrastructure if two or more utilities are in the same state. All of the utilities in the coalition have made efforts in recent years to increase EV charging infrastructure. For example, TVA announced in February 2021 that it is partnering with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to develop and fund a fast-charging network across major roadways in the state.

[1] https://www.tva.com/newsroom/press-releases/electric-highway-coalition