Second EV Charging Station Coming to Western Belmont County
COLUMBUS – The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced plans to expand the state’s electric vehicle charging network, selecting 64 new sites for fast-charging stations backed by $51 million in federal funding.
The funding comes through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, or NEVI, program and will be awarded to private developers to install and operate the stations at businesses across the state. The selected companies will contribute more than $26 million in matching funds, bringing the total investment to over $77 million.
Developers selected for the projects include Aldi, BP Products North America, Francis Energy Charging, Heartland Charging Service, Love’s Travel Stops, Mid Cour EV Charging Solutions, Pilot Travel Centers, Red E Charging, Sheetz, Tesla and United Dairy Farmers. Planned locations include existing travel centers, grocery stores, retail centers and convenience stores.
Locally, a station will be added to the Love’s Travel Plaza, 66320 Belmont-Morristown Road just off SR 149 south of I-70.
Cost for the Morristown Sation is $1.682 million. Of this amount, $807,637 will come from NEVI. It will be matched by private funds totaling $874,940.
ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn said the investment will support economic growth while expanding access to electric vehicle infrastructure.
“Every dollar invested in Ohio strengthens economic opportunity, from construction to long-term operation,” Boratyn said. “Backed by Ohio’s strong automotive and manufacturing sector, these projects position our communities to compete and grow for decades to come while expanding transportation options for Ohioans.”
Each site will include at least four charging ports capable of delivering 150 kilowatts of power, along with access to amenities such as restrooms and food. Construction is expected to begin early next year, with many of the stations projected to open by the end of 2027.
Ohio was among the first states to roll out the NEVI program, becoming the first in the nation to announce charging locations and begin construction. In late 2023, the state opened the country’s first NEVI-funded charging station.
Currently, 19 NEVI stations are operational in Ohio, with 12 more locations scheduled for construction this year.
State officials said Ohio reached another milestone last fall when the Federal Highway Administration certified that its alternative fuel corridors are fully built out, ensuring reliable charging access along major travel routes. The designation allows the state more flexibility in placing new charging stations beyond those corridors.
There are more than 126,000 registered electric vehicles in Ohio, a number that continues to grow. In September 2025, electric vehicles accounted for 5% of all new vehicle registrations in the state for the first time.
In 2023 when the first 27 stations were announced, there were 53,000 registered electric vehicles in the state.
In that round, the current station at the Pilot Travel Center, also located on Belmont-Morristown Road, was funded.
Additional information on all of the 64 Ohio locations is found here.
(The original ODOT press release was expanded with information on the new Belmont County station as well as the current charging station at the Pilot Travel Center)
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