Gov. Eric Holcomb and governors in four other states signed an agreement on Thursday to set up an electric vehicle charging network across the Midwest. Among other things, the partnership hopes to “futureproof” interstate commerce, grow jobs related to the electric vehicle industry, and improve public health.

David Roberts is the chief innovation officer for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. He said these large regional collaborations are important for residents and businesses alike to feel comfortable adopting electric vehicles — without worrying about whether they’ll be able to fuel up in the next town.

“We're the crossroads of America — and we want to make sure that all of those interstates are accessible and favorable to electrified mobility," Roberts said.

Roberts said the partnership could also bring more federal funding to Indiana for electric vehicle infrastructure.

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Kerri Garvin is the executive director of the nonprofit Greater Indiana Clean Cities. She said, with this collaboration, towns along Indiana’s interstates will start to see the benefits that cities with charging networks are already experiencing.

“They're seeing the early adopters of electric vehicles, coming into their cities, going to their shops, going to their restaurants, and boosting that local economy," Garvin said.

Garvin said this partnership is also a great opportunity for a big manufacturing state like Indiana to take the lead on making electric vehicles, parts, and components.

The other states that signed the memorandum of understanding are Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Contact reporter Rebecca at rthiele@iu.edu or follow her on Twitter at @beckythiele.

Indiana Environmental reporting is supported by the Environmental Resilience Institute, an Indiana University Grand Challenge project developing Indiana-specific projections and informed responses to problems of environmental change.