Mustang Mach-E

Make
Ford
Segment
SUV

The writing is on the wall. All-electric vehicles are the future and internal combustion engines will be a thing of the past. By 2035, America could have potentially have more EVs on the road than any other country. Or not. Automakers like General Motors, Volvo, and Jaguar have already committed to EV-only futures. Ford is also very much on board with things, evidenced by the new Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, and the planned Explorer EV.

But there's still something critical missing right now: an EV charging network that's open to everyone, regardless of make and model. That will soon change, at least in the Midwest.

NPR reports the governors of Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are teaming up with a new bipartisan plan to build a network for charging EVs. That plan is called REV Midwest, or the Regional Vehicle Midwest Coalition. Not only will it create jobs and improve public health, but proponents also say it'll help the region attract private investment and additional federal funding.

Above all, the completed network will make life easier for EV owners. Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb said the plan is necessary "to futureproof our transportation network and meet the demand as rapid adoption of electric vehicles continues." The plan calls for the five states to coordinate their electrification efforts.

Equally important, it aims to speed up the completion of a network specifically for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles. But there's another key goal the governors want to achieve: attracting a larger share of EV production. Just last week, Ford announced a multi-billion investment in the states of Tennessee and Kentucky to build a massive production complex and twin battery plants. Around 11,000 new jobs are expected.

These five Midwest governors are not happy Ford left the region and want to ensure it won't happen for similar projects in the future. The states intend to "work together to enable an equitable transition to electric vehicles for all with specific consideration for communities that are historically disadvantaged."