Joerg Sommer, VP of Product Marketing and Strategy at Volkswagen of America, announced plans to invest $10 million in EV charging infrastructure by 2016. Speaking at the Electric Drive Transportation Association’s annual conference, Sommer said the investments VW and other companies are making in EVSE should be matched by additional governmental support.

“Automakers have effectively delivered electric vehicles that can satisfy the needs of most American drivers,” said Sommer. “In addition to the investment we and other companies and industries are making, we would like to see federal financing support for establishing fast charging networks in urban areas and interstate corridors. We’d like to see more state and federal organizations commit to cleaner fleets by purchasing EVs and PHEVs. This should be a US government priority, and federal purchasing guidelines should reflect that by giving fleet purchasers the flexibility they need.”

VW’s program includes a joint project with BMW and ChargePoint to install 100 DC fast-charging stations along the US East and West coasts by the end of the year. Other initiatives include an arrangement with SunPower to sell solar systems to US e-Golf customers.

Source: Volkswagen, Automotive News