Don Cox, one of the first Nebraskans to own an electric vehicle, has driven over 400,000 miles on his EVs since 2008 without ever getting stranded. The number of EVs in Nebraska has grown sixfold in the past six years, with 7,000 registered EVs in the state. Despite this growth, Nebraskans still lag behind other states in EV ownership, with only one out of every 362 registered vehicles being electric.
The main deterrent to EV ownership in Nebraska is the perceived lack of charging infrastructure. However, as the number of charging stations grows, so does the reliability of the network. Ninety percent of respondents to a Nebraska Department of Transportation survey indicated that the state’s charging infrastructure was inadequate for practical EV ownership. The charging stations are mostly concentrated in the eastern half of the state, following the path of Interstate 80.
While most EV owners charge their vehicles at home overnight, a more robust public charging network could lead to increased EV adoption. Range anxiety, the fear of running out of battery power before reaching a charging station, is a major barrier to EV ownership. Increasing the number of charging locations can help alleviate this anxiety.
Nebraska’s power grid has the capacity to support more charging infrastructure, both at home and on the road. Home charging remains the most convenient and cost-effective way to charge an EV, but a comprehensive public charging network is needed to encourage more widespread adoption of electric vehicles in the state. EV owners highlight the importance of well-maintained and functioning charging stations to support their travel needs.
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