LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Superior Watershed Partnership is receiving $240,000 from Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME). The funds will go toward putting electric vehicle chargers in key locations along the Upper Peninsulas’ northern coast.
The push to incentivize more Michiganders to purchase electric vehicles has spurred new infrastructure projects.
Charlie Tyson is the Technology Activation Director with the OFME. He explained that the partnership is between the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the National Parks Service, and the OFME. The project will allow the Superior Watershed Partnership to install charging hubs in Hancock, Munising, Grand Marais, and Marquette near The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and the Keweenaw National Historical Park.
“We met with different superintendents of the national parks in michigan, the gateway communities, to really understand what some of their pain points were as it relates to mobility and transportation,” Tyson said. “We knew that there’s a large gap in EV charging and in the Upper Peninsula. These projects are a great way to start meeting that need.”
Tyson explained that over 300 fast charging stations are available for electric vehicles across the state, but a majority of those are only located in southern Michigan.
The group is working to make sure EV drivers have access to chargers in some of the state’s most popular destinations. The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy will be working with local municipalities and utilities to get the stations installed.
“Many folks are weary of purchasing electric vehicles because of range anxiety. but if they see and know that there’s an EV charging hub, a location where they can charge quickly in their community, they may be more likely to purchase an electric vehicle.” Tyson said. “We make it here in Michigan and it’s this is a great example of FLO charging out of southeast Michigan, actually manufacturing the EV chargers that are being deployed in the Upper Peninsula.”
With projects also launching along US 2, and near Ontongan, Tyson says they hope to make residents and travelers more comfortable driving electric vehicles in the U.P. to hopefully encourage more yoopers to make the switch.
