State is using Volkswagen settlement money to establish electric vehicle charging stations

Virginia plans to use part of the money it’s receiving from an emissions cheating scandal settlement to set up electric vehicle charging stations.

The commonwealth said Thursday it has awarded $14 million to Los Angeles-based EVgo Services LLC to develop stations in heavily congested areas of Virginia.

A series of settlement agreements have been reached between the U.S. Justice Department and Volkswagen regarding the company’s use of emissions testing “defeat devices” in more than 500,000 vehicles sold and operated in the U.S. beginning in 2009. Virginia is receiving $93.6 million from the settlement. The settlement allows states to use up to 15 percent of the money for electric-vehicle charging infrastructure, which represents approximately $14 million in Virginia’s case.

EVgo owns and operates more than 1,000 stations in 34 states across the U.S., including Virginia. The stations can deliver a range of 60 to 80 miles for every 20 minutes of charging.

EVgo is using two Virginia-based contractors to help establish the stations, which will be developed over one-year investment cycles. The company also plans to open a service center in Richmond for the deployment and maintenance of the stations.