Sometimes, even the grandest plans hit a roadblock, not of asphalt, but of bureaucracy. Such, it seems, is the tale of America’s electric vehicle charging stations. Another of the many failings of the US Federal Government.
Fewer than a measly 400 charging stations were built despite there being $7.5 billion approved for Infrastructure spending under Biden. So if you want to ride electric motorcycles, you’re still pretty limited on where you can go.
Building 400 Charging Stations Nationwide Ain’t Gonna Cut It
Now, you might recall a mighty sum, a veritable king’s ransom of over seven billion dollars, earmarked to sprinkle charging stations across this great land, like technological wildflowers.
The idea, a noble one at the time, was to pave the way for a future humming with electric power. But here’s the rub, and it’s a big one: after all that talk, and all that allocated coin, the grand total of actual, working charging stations built so far hovers around a mere 400. Four hundred!
It seems the path from good intentions to tangible results is paved with more than just good old American concrete. According to the folks who keep an eye on such things, the very office set up to shepherd this grand vision lacks clear goals, like a rider without a map. And, as always, the political winds play their part, with whispers of federal funds being held back, and legal skirmishes breaking out between states and the powers that be.
Both sides of the aisle have had a hand in weaving a tangled web of red tape, adding layer upon layer to the process. Imagine, if you will, a state agency needing three years just to get a foot in the door for funding, let alone actually breaking ground on a project. It’s a classic case of good ideas getting bogged down in the swamp of process.
So, while the vision of a truly electrified highway system remains a bright beacon on the horizon, the current reality is a bit more…charged, with frustration.
Many of us want to see more places to plug in, more options for silent, electric journeys. But until the bureaucratic gears grind a little smoother, and the political crosscurrents calm, that grand vision will remain a flicker of light on a distant shore.
