The Arizona Department of Transportation announced 21 new or upgraded electric-vehicle charging stations along interstate highways with the help of federal funding, including a proposed new station at Eloy along I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix.
ADOT on Monday said it is seeking bids from private developers to construct the planned new and upgraded chargers, which also include a potential upgrade in the Casa Grande area off I-10, a station upgrade near Green Valley and proposed new stations in the Nogales area and San Simon along I-10 near the New Mexico border.
The bidding process outlines general areas where stations eligible for funding can be located, with specific locations to be determined through the selection process, ADOT said.
ADOT plans to award contracts this summer, with the new chargers expected to be in operation by the end of 2025. Bids are due April 19, with a preapproval conference for bidders planned in late February.
The charger project is the first phase of a statewide EV rapid-charging infrastructure plan ADOT is funding with $76.5 million, part of the $5 billion from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
All of the proposed stations will be privately owned and operated, with federal funds covering 80% of construction costs and the private developer paying 20%, ADOT said.
The charging stations generally will be spaced no more than 50 miles apart, must be built within a mile of a freeway interchange, and have at least four chargers that can charge a typical EV within 20 to 30 minutes, the agency said.
While the first round of EV charging stations will focus on interstates, ADOT said it plans to expand to other highways starting with an additional round of bids in 2025.
For more information about the electric-vehicle charging station network, go to AZDOT.gov/EVPlan.
Prospective bidders can find instructions at tucne.ws/evbids.
