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Rising gas prices increase interest in electric vehicles

Electric car charging station for EV battery. [Fahroni/Shutterstock]
Electric car charging station for EV battery. [Fahroni/Shutterstock]

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last month and the sanctions put into place as a result have helped to drive up gas prices and interest in electric vehicles.  Investments in the technology were already increasing.  Now with skyrocketing gas prices drivers may be considering making the switch.

Over the next 5 years, Ohio is scheduled to take in more than $140 million in federal funds, specifically to improve the state's electric vehicle infrastructure. It comes as part of a $5 billion federal spending plan to increase the amount of EV support such as adding charging stations all across this country.

In February we brought you a conversation that looked at where Ohio stands in adapting to EV technology and what still needs to be done.

Some economic forecasters predict electric vehicles will make up 10 % of the total automobiles on the road by 2025, and in the same breath point out how much our current EV infrastructure does not support this predicted number.

 We are going to bring you that conversation again today as EV technology remains of particular interest right now.

Tom Bullock, Executive Director, Citizen's Utility Board of Ohio
Marty Cohen, Energy Policy Consultant
Kathiann Kowalski, Reporter, Energy News Network

Leigh Barr is a coordinating producer for the "Sound of Ideas" and the "Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable."