• Tallahassee city officials have submitted an application for a grant of over $12 million to build additional electric vehicle charging stations in the city.
• The plan calls for the construction of three more stations in areas where there is a lack of infrastructure for electric vehicles.
• Watch the video to hear what neighbors think about the plan.

TRANSCRIPT OF THE MISSION:

Electric vehicle charging stations are available in northeast Tallahassee, but the city is working to add more charging stations in other parts of the city.

I’m taking a closer look at the need for more chargers around the capital as more and more electric vehicles hit the roads.

Electric vehicle owner Dustin Rivest said he has enjoyed electric vehicles since he bought his first one in 2017.

“It costs me about $11 to fill up my truck and I can go 320 miles on a single charge,” Rivest said. “I get the same benefit from a regular F-150 as I do from a gas truck.”

He is one of many in our area who use electric vehicle chargers at locations like the one at the Thomasville Road station.

He has even installed some of them in his business and said he is happy to hear that the city is considering installing even more of them throughout the city.

“It’s a matter of saving money and if you care about the environment, it helps the environment,” Rivest said.

The city council voted last week to apply for a grant to finance three additional charging stations in areas without extensive electric vehicle infrastructure.

The money comes from the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Mayor John Dailey said the project is consistent with the city’s goals.

“Tallahassee is committed to being carbon neutral by 2050, and that plan has many elements,” Dailey said. “One of them is providing infrastructure for electric vehicles.”

The city is seeking a grant to finance 80% of the project, or $12 million.

The remainder would be more than $2 million from city funds.

Check out this map from the U.S. Department of Energy.

US Department of Energy

This shows that there are 38 charging stations in Leon County.

Every neighborhood has a few, except in northwest Tallahassee.

With a new Tesla dealership on West Tennessee Street, even more electric vehicles could come to market.

Not everyone is so sure about the plan.

I met Vince White while he was filling up his truck.

He said he would not buy an electric vehicle.

“To find these ports, you have to Google them, find them and search for them,” White said. “It’s not particularly useful.”

He said he was unsure about the project.

“I don’t think they should use our tax money for this,” White said.

Dailey said it will be useful, especially with the federal funding.

“Any time we can combine federal or state funds with local tax dollars, it’s a win for the community,” Dailey said.

Rivest also said he encourages the city to encourage businesses and homeowners to purchase their own chargers.

“If the city and county made it a little easier, I think the response would be much greater,” Rivest said.

Wednesday was the last day for local authorities to apply for this grant.

The city government will provide an update once funding is approved.