Transportation

Tennessee to install EV charging stations in state parks

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July 23, 2021

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has partnered with Rivian, an electric vehicle automaker and automotive technology company, to install EV charging stations at Tennessee state parks, according to a press release.

The goal is to have charging stations available at all 56 parks, depending on the availability of electricity and planned future park upgrades.

Rivian will oversee the design and installation of the Level 2 chargers, which are compatible with all EV models currently on the road. The open network chargers can provide up to 11.5 kilowatts of power, enabling EV drivers to top up on miles.

EV charging at state parks will initially be free and drivers will be able to monitor their vehicle's charging session via the Rivian app. Any potential future cost to drivers may be dependent on systemwide utilization to recover electricity costs.

In addition to overseeing design and installation, Rivian will provide any necessary utility upgrades associated with the charger installation at no cost to the state or taxpayers. Rivian will also cover all network access fees, equipment service and maintenance for 10 years.

Under the estimated timeline, Rivian will begin site surveys and engineering over the summer, with installation beginning as early as fall 2021 and stretching into March 2022.