Utah and Colorado are leading Arizona and New Mexico in providing charging options for non-Tesla electric vehicles, according to a report from renewable energy trade publication Clean Technica. While interstates such as 10, 40, 17, and 80 are seeing improved coverage through the Electrify America network, significant gaps remain for travelers moving off main highways.
In San Juan County, the Town of Bluff has implemented two new charging stations. Linda Sosa, a member of Business Owners of Bluff, stated that the town is happy to have these stations and noted that Bluff serves as a hub for travelers in the Four Corners.
However, data indicates that south of Bluff, the region becomes an electric vehicle wasteland. According to Clean Technica, it would be very difficult for drivers to continue past Bluff into Arizona on US 191 without encountering a lack of recharging stations before reaching Interstate 40. For drivers of vehicles like the Chevy Volt or Toyota Leaf, traveling to destinations like the Grand Canyon could require significant downtime due to the lack of rapid charging stations in those areas.
While Electrify America has made strides in upgrading and installing stations along major interstates across all four states, the coverage drops off when traveling toward tourist destinations away from these main routes. Despite these gaps in surrounding states, Utah remains prepared to support travelers using Tesla, Leaf, or Volt vehicles.
