Two federal agencies are launching a joint office to help develop a national network of 500,000 electric vehicle chargers, Kallanish reports.

The US Department of Energy and the Department of Transportation have created the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to support deployment of $7.5 billion from President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build out a national EV charging network. That effort will focus on filling in gaps in rural, disadvantaged and hard-to-reach locations.

Such a charging network is a key part of Biden’s plan to accelerate the use of EVs to deal with climate change and to boost the US economy. Biden wants 50% of all new car sales in the US to be electric by 2030. Transportation also accounts for 29% of all US carbon pollution. The Biden administration has also mandated that 40% of all benefits from federal climate and clean energy investments go to underserved communities.

The Joint Office will help accelerate an effective deployment of a convenient, reliable, affordable and equitable national network of charging station. It will provide technical assistance to states and localities including help states develop their own EV charging plans. Both agencies are also charged with investing in zero-emission vehicle passenger, transit and heavy-duty vehicles. Job training will also be provided.