President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that the administration approved nearly $1 billion to help 35 states begin building a nationwide electric vehicle charging station network.
The president’s comments came during a speech at the North American Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. The funds were previously appropriated in 2021’s trillion-dollar bipartisan infrastructure law, which, in total, put aside $5 billion to help states build electric vehicle charging stations.
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“The middle class built America, and unions built the middle class,” Biden declared in his opening. “Nowhere is that more evident than right here in Michigan. We’re building the future of the electric vehicle.”
“I’m pleased to announce we’re approving funding for the first 35 states, including Michigan, to build their own electric charging infrastructure throughout their state,” he continued. “You all are going to be part of a network of 500,000 charging stations throughout the country.”
Biden, who was introduced Wednesday by a local United Auto Workers member as “kickin’ a** for the middle class,” continued to tout his support for labor unions.
“We’re lucky to have the most skilled auto workers in the world, and that’s not hyperbole. The single most skilled auto workers in America are right here today,” he added.
“When you see these big projects in your hometowns — cranes going up, shovels in the ground, workers with hard hats on — I want you to feel the way I feel, and I really mean it: pride,” Biden closed, “pride in what we can do when we do it together.”
The president previously outlined goals of converting half of the nation’s cars to electric vehicles by 2030 and has signed a number of executive orders and laws that would electrify the full federal fleet ahead of those goals.
He signed one executive order in December 2021 that will require the federal government to purchase only electric or hybrid vehicles wherever possible starting in 2027. Currently, the U.S. government owns more than 650,000 vehicles and purchases roughly 50,000 per year.
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You can watch Biden’s remarks in full below.
