Electric vehicle infrastructure talks begin for Missoula’s urban area | Missoula

MISSOULA, Mont. – The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)in Missoula is holding conversations surrounding electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and how it could be incorporated for Missoula’s metropolitan area. The main idea being with more electric vehicles in the area, this doesn‘t develop into a transportation issue for Missoulians. 

The MPO wants to ensure policies and a plan for EV infrastructure. They don’t want charging stations to go unregulated. The hope is to make EV infrastructure convenient and not have it disrupt the community.  

“Like an across sidewalk EV charging program that would ensure that, ‘Okay if people are going to do this, one, how can we support them and two, how can we make sure that this thing that they’re doing doesn’t impede on people’s access to the right of way. That there’s not chords on the sidewalks that folks are going to trip on,’” said Electrification Specialist, Devin Filicicchai.  

Currently, there’s 17 E charging stations in Missoula, according to the US Department of Energy.  The MPO hopes community engagement surrounding EV infrastructure can begin this summer. Once feedback is received, then comes potentially looking into federal funding.  

Long-time EV owner, Shannon Flanagan, sees the need to address EV infrastructure in the future.  

“It would be foolish to not pay attention to the fact that that is a growing segment of the market, and we need to support that for infrastructure for Missoula to be an attractive community for people in general,” said Flanagan.  

The MPO wants to hear from the public on the positives or worries that infrastructure could bring. Then they’ll work on a specific plan for how to incorporate it in the community. However, it’s a balance of bringing in more EV infrastructure for users, but also not having it as a hazard for Missoula’s urban area.