Newark, Delaware has been awarded a USD 590,949 federal grant by the United States Department of Transportation, allowing the city to significantly expand its electric vehicle (EV) and e-bike charging infrastructures.
Through the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure program, a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the grant will fund the city’s initiative with an estimated cost of approximately USD 753,000. Additional funding sources include USD 55,000 in rebates from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, with the remainder provided through in-kind labor and equipment contributions.
Newark’s project targets EV charger installation in residential and commercial areas around parks and downtown.
City Manager Tom Coleman highlighted that the initiative is intended for people coming to their parks or parking lots, providing charging options whenever their batteries run low.
Newark’s Comprehensive Charging Station Deployment
The strategic plan includes the installation of 11 new public-facing dual-port charging stations for EVs, aimed to efficiently serve two cars simultaneously. These dual-port EV chargers will be strategically placed in downtown Newark’s Lots 3 and 4, Phillips Park, and George Wilson Community Center.
Additionally, 12 e-bike charging ports will be integrated into parks along the city’s bike trails at Phillips Park, George Wilson Community Center, and Curtis Mill Park.
Currently, Newark has nine operating EV chargers, with four dedicated to internal fleet use and five available to the public.
Assistant City Manager Jeff Martindale emphasized, “This has been something that’s been heavily requested for some time. So, giving our residents the opportunity to access those new charging opportunities should be very useful.”