Volkswagen settlement, in part, funds charging stations

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Ten North Dakota communities will use part of a settlement with Volkswagen to build electric vehicle charging stations.

The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality will send $2.7 million to the local governments and businesses for clean vehicle projects, including 17 charging stations statewide. All but one are fast chargers that can charge vehicles in about 30 minutes, according to the Bismarck Tribune.

Just 187 electric vehicles are registered in the state, and North Dakota has no Level 1 fast chargers. Several dozen Level 2 chargers exist in the state, however. They are cheaper to install, but they take hours to provide a full charge.

North Dakota was awarded about $8 million through the 2016 Volkswagen settlement between the federal government and the auto manufacturer, which admitted that it programmed some of its diesel vehicles to cheat on emissions tests.

The stations will be somewhat spread across the state, with the Interstate 29 corridor in the Red River Valley having the highest concentration.

The city of Bismarck is expecting to receive $205,000 in settlement money to fund two fast-charging stations, as well as a new, more efficient diesel-powered forestry chipper truck.

(Image credit: PTI)