As a May 2024 Pew survey discovered, EV charging in rural America is on the rise. As the report noted, EV charging in some of the nation’s more remote locations has a “slightly faster growth rate…compared with urban areas (34% vs. 29%).”
Considering that urban areas host the lion’s share of all US EV charging stations — almost 90% — that 5% rise represents a significant change in rural dwellers’ attitude toward EV adoption. After all, no business would go to the expense of installing a facility no one wants to use. To continue that upward growth, it’s well worth the time to dive into some of the factors that drove this increase.
Rural Electric Cooperatives Step Up to the Plate
As our January 25, 2023 post pointed out, rural electric cooperatives — utilities owned and operated by those they serve — stood on the front lines of EV charging in remote locations. As sponsors of some of the first EV charging stations in their communities, they led the way toward charging availability for both residents and the tourists who flock there to experience the rural lifestyle.
The cooperatives didn’t stop there, though. Rural electric co-ops have stepped up their efforts to promote EV adoption — and have provided the infrastructure to keep the numbers of rural EV owners growing. Case in point: a group of Ohio electric cooperatives that press the case for EVs in the group’s monthly magazine.
As Amy Howat points out in the magazine’s March 2025 edition, Ohio’s electric co-ops have gone the extra mile to change the “skepticism about EVs” that remains strong within the Midwestern state’s rural population. Pointing out the advantages EV ownership can bring rural residents, the article makes the case for EVs to the magazine’s more than 300,000 subscribers across rural Ohio and West Virginia.
Combatting Readers’ Range Anxiety with Real-Life Examples
Howat interviews Karen Carlisle, a retired NASA engineer who overcame her range anxiety when she still worked at the agency’s Cleveland location — a 160-mile daily round trip from her rural home. To her surprise, her Tesla got her to work and back on a single charge.
Now, Carlisle makes frequent trips to visit her Atlanta-based son, about a 708-mile drive. With the Tesla app to steer her to convenient charging locations, she finds it easy to locate charging stations, fuel up, and get back on the road. As Carlisle puts it, “[I] don’t think about it any more than you would getting gas.”
Similarly, retired Air Force pilot-turned-farmer Paul Beineke used to drive a 170-mile commute in his EV. Although initially concerned about charging availability and range, Beineke discovered that he could make the commute and then some by charging at home.
Encouraging Plug-In Hybrid Purchases as an Interim Step
Ed VanHoose, the CEO of a group of electric cooperatives in northern Ohio, touts the benefits of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) to customers who aren’t ready to step into an all-electric vehicle. According to VanHoose, switching to a hybrid allowed him to go from filling up “once or twice a week” to only once a month. When rural readers see those kinds of savings, they, too, might consider trying a hybrid.
Touting the Savings an All-Electric Vehicle Can Bring
Citing US Department of Transportation (USDOT) statistics on lower lifetime fuel and maintenance costs might not be enough for no-nonsense country folk. They want information from people they know and trust.
Beineke, who also serves as a co-op trustee, did exactly that. In the article, he brings the receipts when it comes to his own experience with day-to-day driving.
With his Tesla, Beineke gets 30 miles for every $1.30 he spends on charging. That’s less than half of what a gas-powered car owner would pay for the same mileage. Even the most hardened EV skeptics might change their minds when they see their neighbor piling up the savings at the pump.
Providing Advice and Incentives for Prospective EV Buyers
Some of the co-ops featured in the article converted at least part of their own fleets to EVs and plug-in hybrids. They tracked the vehicles’ performance and economic data to share with members (co-op customers) who wanted to weigh their car-buying options.
- Honest advice: With realistic estimates about what customers could expect, the co-ops’ leaders provided members with details about various kinds of EVs. Informing members about some of the cold weather range issues and towing limitations some EV owners face built trust in the co-op leadership’s expertise, allowing them to purchase EVs or hybrids better suited to their needs.
- Valuable incentives: Several Ohio electric cooperatives offer members $250 rebates for installing Level 2 chargers on their properties. With prices for Level 2 chargers running between $500 and $700, that’s some significant savings. In addition, one Ohio co-op offers a special rate for those members who charge during off-peak times. Combined with the co-op’s rebate for purchasing a Level 2 charger, these discounts could reduce EV buyers’ cost of ownership, making an EV purchase an even better deal.
USDOT Continues Support for Rural EV Charging
Recognizing the need to make rural air cleaner and long-distance transportation more affordable, the US Department of Transportation’s 2025 Rural EV Toolkit continues to provide a wealth of information and advice for EV charging companies, rural communities, and prospective EV owners.
Reducing Energy Expenditures
Since most rural drivers must drive longer distances to shop, work, conduct business, and seek medical treatment, finding a way to reduce their fuel and maintenance costs is essential for maintaining their quality of life. Reducing energy expenses, as the US Department of Agriculture points out, is especially critical for farmers. Finding more sustainable power sources can make the difference between losing the family farm and continuing to produce food for the rest of the nation.
Supporting initiatives to build public EV charging stations, fund at-home charging, and offer advice to EV drivers can help increase the number of EVs on rural roads. In its current iteration, the USDOT has taken a turn toward support and education, serving as a clearinghouse for information about electric and other energy-saving forms of transportation.
Creating Cleaner Air for Residents and Tourists
As studies emerge that document the impact of gasoline and diesel emissions on passengers as well as passersby, finding alternative sources of transportation must become a priority for the automotive industry. With its broad reach, the USDOT can inform consumers and fleet managers about zero-emissions alternatives.
Given an alternative, tourists who travel to remote locations to connect with nature will choose those rural communities that take clean air seriously. With the USDOT’s support and education, local leaders can make their communities a more welcoming place for tourists and new residents alike.
EV Charging Infrastructure Providers Step Up for Rural Communities
Led by Red E Charge, several EV charging infrastructure providers gambled on a more electrified future to install EV chargers in underserved rural communities in South Dakota and other states along the I-90 corridor.
Electrify America, too, has installed 30 entirely solar-powered charging stations throughout rural California. With renewable power sources, the state’s rural EV drivers have dependable charging services even during grid blackouts.
So far, Electrify America has invested $2 million in 30 solar-powered EV charging stations in rural California. These Level 2 stations provide drivers access to EV charging even in some of the state’s most remote locations.
In addition, John Deere has taken a twofold approach to supporting rural electrification — starting by building a North Carolina-based manufacturing facility for EV batteries and EV chargers for its newly acquired Kreisel Electric division. That move, however, spawned some negative social media rumors that the company was “pushing electric tractors” at the expense of farmers heavily invested in their internal combustion engine-powered machines.
Taking a proactive approach, Deere’s CTO, Jahmy Hindman, jumped on an interview with industry powerhouse Farm Journal to quash those rumors. In the interview, Hindman solidified his support for farmers’ concerns while still emphasizing the benefits of EV technology for light-duty farm equipment.
Utah-based Power Innovations International also offers a line of mobile EV chargers. That’s a game-changer for rural EV drivers or fleet managers traveling to uber-remote areas, such as primitive campgrounds, construction sites, or ranches.
With these charging infrastructure providers taking a leap into the future of rural electrification, more EV charging stations will soon emerge across America’s heartland. Along with them will come a flood of EVs, saving rural Americans money and keeping their air as pristine as the countryside itself.
Discover the Latest Developments in EV Charging at the Summit
The rise of EV charging in rural America is welcome news for those of us who believe in the benefits of zero-emissions transportation. At the EV Charging Summit, you and your team can learn more about the latest developments in rural EV charging — and so much more.
With a stellar lineup of the finest minds in EV charging to hear from and interact with and vendors who can help you find the best solution for your EV charging business’s needs, you’ll come away with a wealth of knowledge you can put to use as soon as you arrive home. Reserve your place at the Summit today!
