In recent comments to the Federal Highway Administration, the RVIA expressed its support for increasing access to the outdoors for all Americans.
The association specifically supports accomplishing the goal through the establishment of grant and incentive programs for state and local governments, as well as the private sector, to build a national network of EV charging stations.
The RVIA, along with many other associations and organizations, have set a goal of ensuring greater access to the outdoors. The goal, coupled with environmental concerns and rapidly changing technologies, led many to seek a robust electric vehicle charging infrastructure. EV infrastructure is especially desired in rural areas, national/state parks and forests and private campgrounds.
RVIA said the development and funding for robust EV charging infrastructure aligns with the association’s efforts to unify the industry through improving the consumer’s camping and RVing experiences. As the RV industry continues to surge in popularity, and the number of campground visitors continues to increase, having robust EV infrastructure remains a critical part of improving outdoor access and modernizing outdoor facilities.
RVIA’s comments to the Federal Highway Administration focused on five specific issues:
- Development of and improvement to electrical vehicle charging and hydrogen, propane and natural gas fueling stations. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis the outdoor recreation industry contributes $689 billion to the U.S. economy and supports 4.3 million jobs – many in rural areas. Much of America’s recreation infrastructure on federally managed lands is associated with revenue streams like entrance and activity fees, licenses and registration fees and excise and fuel taxes. RVIA stated the electric vehicle infrastructure would support the increased traffic to parks and campgrounds to accommodate innovative new vehicles, equipment and RVs.
- Consumer demand and innovation are spurring electrified RV products, such as Thor’s Vision Vehicle and eStream, and Winnebago’s EV concept vehicle. Demand is also increasing for tandem charging capabilities at parks and campgrounds, allowing for congruent charging of electric tow-vehicles and electric RV trailers.
- The $5 billion state allocation can help address electrical grid issues and invest in park, forest and rural EV infrastructure. RVIA argued that state and local infrastructure investments can grow renewable charging recreation corridors by capitalizing on existing electric charging networks, in addition to building new and upgrading utility investments in and around U.S. public lands and campgrounds.
- Eligible entities for EV charging and refueling infrastructure grant programs and community grants must include publicly accessible parking facility projects owned or managed by a private entity. Private campgrounds and RV dealerships are well positioned to support a rural electric vehicle charging network. If a public parking facility owned by a private entity is eligible to receive grants, private campgrounds, RV dealerships and connected parking facilities should be eligible as well.
- Prioritization for community grant projects in rural areas and low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and communities. National and state parks support hundreds of thousands of private-sector jobs annually and contribute to the health and wellbeing of Americans. In 2019, visitor spending in communities near national parks resulted in a $41.7 billion benefit to the nation’s economy and supported 340,500 jobs. These facilities and the gateway communities that surround them are worthy of a robust EV charging infrastructure that accommodates the current and future RV traveler.
View the full comments here.
For additional information on RVIA’s electric vehicle infrastructure efforts, contact RVIA Director of Federal Affairs Chris Bornemann at [email protected].
