Ohio Turnpike electric-vehicle use speeds past ‘major milestone’ as recharging stops hit 100K

COLUMBUS — Electric vehicle use along the Ohio Turnpike hit a “major milestone” last month, as the number of recharging stops using the toll road’s eight charging stations surpassed the 100,000 mark, according to a turnpike release.

And that number might jump even more sharply as turnpike officials consider installing even more charging stations along the 241-mile highway.

Since 2019, the turnpike has set up a total of 80 electric-vehicle charging units at eight service plazas, the release stated.

The units were set up via a public-private partnership: 64 are operated by Texas-based Tesla, while 16 are run by Electrify America, a Virginia-based subsidiary of Volkswagen, according to the release.

“The number of EVS charged on the Ohio Turnpike has continued to increase steadily year-overyear since 2019,” said Ferzan Ahmed, executive director of the turnpike commission. “As sales of EVS and plug-in hybrids continue to increase, we are considering options to increase the number of EV charging units at additional service plaza locations.”

Turnpike spokesman Chuck Cyrill said in an interview that the goal is to set up charging stations at the six remaining service plazas along the turnpike that don’t yet have them. Cyrill said the turnpike doesn’t yet have a time frame for achieving that goal, as turnpike officials are still in discussions over which private-sector firm would build and operate those new charging units.

“We are currently seeking proposals from EV charging companies to install units at all service plazas, including additional EV charging units at the service plazas that already offer the service,” said Chris Matta, chief engineer of the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, in a statement. “A timeframe for construction has not been established.”

Last December, Ohio opened the nation’s first electric vehicle charging station paid for by the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill President Joe Biden signed more than two years ago.

Ohio is slated to have 26 more charging stations built at gas stations, stores, and restaurants along Interstates 70, 71, 76, 77 and 90, using money from the legislation. However, none of those new charging stations will be along the Ohio Turnpike.