DETROIT, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Detroit and Ann Arbor are gearing up to electrify the streets, thanks to a $26.2 million jolt from the Biden administration aimed at supercharging electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

This hefty grant is part of a $521 million federal effort to boost EV charging and alternative fueling stations across 29 states, eight federally recognized tribes, and the District of Columbia. In total, the initiative is set to fund over 9,200 new EV charging ports nationwide.

MORE NEWS: Michigan Dems Learn Nothing from Nov. 5, Back Bills for ‘Birthing People’

U.S. Secretary of Energy and former Michigan Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm, praised the investment, saying it “puts public dollars in the hands of states, tribes, and communities to build a more accessible national charging network.” Granholm highlighted that the plan will also generate well-paying local jobs and expand transportation options for Americans across different geographies and income levels.

Biden’s electric ambition.

President Joe Biden has been a steadfast advocate for electrifying the nation’s roads, previously allocating $7.5 billion to build 500,000 new charging ports through a bipartisan infrastructure law. As part of this broader vision, Michigan is slated to receive $110 million through fiscal 2026 to help charge up its EV infrastructure. Should Democratic nominee Kamala Harris continue Biden’s policies, the EV push is likely to stay on track according to the Detroit Free Press.

Since the start of Biden’s term, the U.S. Department of Transportation reports that the number of publicly available EV chargers has doubled, with around 1,000 new chargers added weekly. The goal is to create a reliable network of chargers along major highways and interstates, crucial for long- distance EV travel. As of March, the U.S. boasted 168,388 public EV charging ports, according to the Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center.

Michigan’s high-voltage hopes and challenges.

As reported previously by the Detroit Free Press, Michigan has ambitious goals to have 100,000 publicly accessible EV chargers by 2030, yet the state is currently far from this target, with fewer than 2,000 chargers as of April. The Anderson Economic Group’s data highlights the gap, showing only 311 public direct current (DC) fast-charging stations and 1,141 Level 2 chargers, which deliver slower charges.

Consumers Energy, based in Jackson, projects it will power 1,500 new fast-charging stations in Michigan by 2030, driven by the state’s EV market trends. However, the pace of EV adoption is still outstripping the availability of charging stations.

According to Elizabeth Krear, vice president of the EV practice at J.D. Power, EV growth is currently doubling the rate of infrastructure expansion, which strains the reliability of existing networks. Krear noted that the U.S. charging infrastructure is 81% reliable, meaning nearly one in five attempts to charge results in failure.

Is it a future that nobody wants?

MORE NEWS: Flush With Money: Detroit Schools’ Superintendent Nikolai Vitti Led District Back to Financial Stability

As Michigan plugs into federal funds and ramps up efforts to meet its EV charging goals, the race is on to ensure the infrastructure can keep up with the surging demand for electric vehicles. However, many are noticing that there ISN’T necessarily a surging demand for electric vehicles.

With news rolling in about companies like GM and Ford dialing back their EV production, it’s hard not to picture Michigan lined with a sea of idle chargers, waiting for cars that never arrive. The state might soon boast plenty of plugs but nothing to juice up, leaving us to wonder if we’re putting the cart before the horsepower – or in this case, the plug before the ride.