Electric car charging station coming to Wedowe

A Wedowee gas station will soon be home to the county’s first electric car charging station.

The Exxon service station on Highway 431 next to Tanner Medical Center on the south end of Wedowee was one of five stations statewide to receive grant money for the installation of the charging station.

The grants are awarded to help Alabama be ready as more electric vehicles are purchased and travel the state highways.

“As more electric cars and trucks, including many models produced by Alabama car manufacturers, make their way onto Alabama roadways, they will need access to adequate charging facilities,” Gov. Kay Ivey said in a press release on the grants. “Our goal is to ensure that electric vehicle charging stations are located not only along the interstate system, but on other major highway arteries throughout the state.” 

Funds for all the projects came from appropriations by the Alabama Legislature under the state Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Program. The grants target well-traveled highway systems away from the interstates or busy locations. Most of the latest awards are in locations along Alabama’s highway system on the state’s eastern corridor. 

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants. 

“These grants are part of a plan to ensure that electric vehicle charging stations are located along heavily traveled roads to give motorists alternative routes to the interstate system if they wish,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA is pleased to join with Governor Ivey and the many partners in this program.”

Allen Oil Company, which is based in Sylacauga, owns the Wedowee station and will receive $180,424 to install a two-bay charging station.