In terms of electric vehicles, the Tar Heel State has kicked it into high gear.

Governor Roy Cooper declared this week that the state’s total number of registered electric vehicles has surpassed a 2025 target, with over 85,000 already in place.

Since consumers continue to worry about “range anxiety,” state officials are currently attempting to ensure that infrastructure catches up.

One of the primary obstacles facing the electric vehicle (EV) sector, according to the head of the National Automobile Dealers Association, is infrastructure.

Walter Daniels, though, is less worried. He drives his Ford F-150 Lightning pickup between Durham and Manteo on a regular basis.

Although he regularly charges the pickup at home, he claimed that there are increasingly more chargers available on the Outer Banks and in the areas connecting the Outer Banks to the Research Triangle.

Among these is a recently constructed charger near Columbia on U.S. 64, which is partially financed by proceeds from the Volkswagen pollution settlement.

“For a lot of people that’s the last stop before they get to the Outer Banks, and if they use up a little charge while they’re running around here, to get a boost to head back wherever they’re going,”  Daniels stated.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation intends to install chargers around the state, including along the U.S. 17 corridor through South Mills and Elizabeth City, using funds from the federal infrastructure package, as previously reported by News 3 earlier this year.

Phase two of the initiative is concentrated on meeting daily requirements within communities, whereas phase one is geared toward long-distance tourists.

According to NCDOT’s Heather Hildebrandt, “That you could use it very similarly to a gas station,” back in January. “So it will allow those who could not consider an electric vehicle previously to consider that transition to an electric vehicle.”

Certain communities are progressing on their own initiative. The Town of Nags Head intends to upgrade its public services complex and Town Hall with charging stations.

The town developed a thorough action plan for electric vehicles in collaboration with a team from the Duke Nicholas School of the Environment.

Access to charging is also being increased by private businesses. Recently, the Outer Banks Mall saw the opening of a bank of Tesla Superchargers.

Additionally, Tesla is allowing drivers from other brands to use its charging networks, and businesses like Ford are selling converters.

Daniels stated that he switched to electricity to support environmental causes and modern technologies. He said that the investments will improve the comfort of others.

“If we don’t support new technologies, they won’t come to bear in the marketplace,” he declared. “So somewhere along the line people have to buy them to have them.”