Electric vehicle owners now have another option for finding charging stations, especially when they are currently cut off from civilization.
The PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center’s new interactive map guides electric vehicle owners to charging stations in or near more than 260 of the nation’s state and national parks covering more than 4 square miles. It was developed through a collaboration between Frontier Group, Environment America Research and Policy Center and U.S. PIRG Education Fund.
In Pennsylvania, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has installed electric vehicle chargers in three dozen state and national parks, including popular nearby parks such as McConnells Mill, Moraine, Ohiopyle, Raccoon Creek and Presque Isle (though these are less than 4 square miles in size and are not included on the new map).
“Parking systems across the country and the Commonwealth are making it easier for electric vehicle owners to charge where they can charge.” said Flora Cardoni, deputy director of the PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center, in a press release. “This means we can all leave air pollution behind as we enjoy the wonders of the great outdoors. It’s a win-win-win for our health and the health of the wildlife and landscapes that draw us to the parks in the first place.”
Electric vehicle advocates like the Electric Vehicle Association say more needs to be done to improve charging infrastructure.
“What the transition to electric vehicles needs is more chargers in the ground, not another card,” says John Higham, EVA board member, in an email response.
According to Pew Research, there are over 61,000 publicly accessible electric vehicle chargers in the United States, and six out of 10 Americans live within two miles of a charging station.
Higham highlights Plugshare and ChargeWay, as well as maps built directly into electric vehicles, as ways vehicle owners can already find charging stations.
“Of course we need to have charging stations on site, and we are certainly committed to that,” Cardoni adds. “This map is a small part of a larger effort to help us electrify our transportation future. It’s helpful to highlight that these remote places also have charging stations.”
New fee for owners of electric vehicles
The card comes after a new law in Pennsylvania, set to take effect next year, forces electric vehicle owners to pay an additional $200 fee when registering their vehicle. In 2026, the fee will rise to $250 and be adjusted for inflation going forward. Owners of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles will have to pay 25% of the fee for fully electric vehicles.
Lawmakers stress that road maintenance is a necessary element of the law because electric vehicle owners effectively avoid paying gasoline tax at the pump.
States such as Ohio, West Virginia, Georgia and Alabama also charge at least $200 per year to register electric vehicles.
PennEnvironment opposes the new regulation.
“We should do everything we can to encourage the transition to electric vehicles,” Cardoni said. “This legislation does the opposite by imposing high fees on electric vehicle owners that could stagnate the purchase of clean electric vehicles by consumers and businesses and undermine Pennsylvania’s ability to reduce climate and air pollution.”
