NMDOT working on new charging stations for electric vehicles

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Right now, only about a third of the electric vehicle chargers in New Mexico can fully juice a vehicle in 15 to 20 minutes. State transportation reps are hoping to expand those options.

“We’re currently under construction around the state for 40 locations in excess of 90 electric vehicle charging stations through New Mexico,” said Jerry Valdez, executive director for the New Mexico Department of Transportation. “That project was funded by the New Mexico legislation legislators using COVID relief funds.”

This comes a month after New Mexico’s governor announced she wants automakers to provide more clean options for drivers in the state.

“For model year 2027 passenger vehicles, 43%, so nearly half of all new vehicles sold in New Mexico must be zero-emission vehicles,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said.

That number should increase to 82% in 2042.

With the influx of electric cars, state leaders recognize drivers will need a lot more places to charge up, especially in rural parts of the state.

“Rito, Questa, Ojo Caliente, Pecos, Taos, Española,” Valdez listed.

The list goes on, and reps say the more than 90 new Level 3 charging stations – which provide the fastest charge – are expected to go online by the end of the year.

The work doesn’t stop there.

“We went after a charging, fueling infrastructure grant – that grant totals more than $159 million,” Valdez said. “That would include 68 locations all across the state. If we are awarded that total, that would go a long way to make sure that we actually have EV charging stations to accelerate that adoption of zero-emission vehicles.”