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Photo: iSeecars.com

A new study finds that the number of public electric vehicle chargers in the Roanoke region grew more than 25% last year, placing it close to the middle of the U.S. in being EV-friendly. iSeecars.com looked at the number of chargers in US metro areas and the population of each such region. Then it was easy — do a little math to determine the number of residents for each charger, and of 210 metro areas, Roanoke-Lynchburg came in 118th. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones:

From iSeecars.com:

The latest iSeeCars study identifies which U.S. cities and states are the most and least EV friendly, and which ones have improved the most over the past year. The study analyzes how many chargers are available per resident to determine the cities and states with the best and worst electric vehicle charging access.

  • The Roanoke metro area has 340 EV chargers, or 1 charger for every 2,948 residents 

  • Virginia state has 4,550 chargers, or 1 charger for every 1,916 residents

  • This compares to a national average of 1 charger for every 1,848 residents.

EV Charger Stats: 2023 – iSeeCars Study

Location

Total Chargers

Residents Per Charger

Roanoke-Lynchburg, VA

340

2,948

Virginia

4,550

1,916

National Avg

181,270

1,848

Based on residents per charger:

  • The Roanoke metro area ranks #118 out of 210 metro areas for EV friendliness

  • Its EV friendliness improved by 25.9% in 2023, which ranks #67 out of 210 metro areas

  • Virginia ranks #16 out of all 50 U.S. states for EV friendliness

  • Virginia state’s EV-friendliness improved by 21.1% in 2023, which ranks #25 in the U.S.

EV Charger Improvement: 2022 to 2023 – iSeeCars Study

Location

% Improvement Total Chargers

Total Chargers 2023

Total Chargers 2022

% Improvement Residents Per Charger

Residents Per Charger 2023

Residents Per Charger 2022

Roanoke-Lynchburg, VA

34.9%

340

252

25.9%

2,948

3,978

Virginia

25

4,550

3,574

21.1%

1,916

2,428

National Avg

23.9%

181,270

146,337

18.9%

1,848

2,277

Click here for the full national report

Women history month Vectors & Illustrations for Free Download | Freepik

Women history month | Freepik

March is Women’s History Month…At Virginia Tech women are changing the landscape of the field of engineering. WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno introduces us to one of the changemakers.

Virginia Tech’s top ranked Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering boosts 12 women faculty and researchers who are inspiring and paving the way for the next generation. WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno introduces us to Department head Dr. Eileen Van Aken.

Roanoke creatives a national arts organization wants to hear from you. The results of a survey through roanokearts.org could bring affordable housing and workplaces for creatives to the area. The only caveat is the survey closes tonight at midnight. WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has more.

Click here for more information and to access the survey

The weather looks decent – plenty of sun – for this Saturday’s big St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Izzy Post is with Downtown Roanoke Incorporated; she said live in-studio this morning that local merchants like the St. Patrick’s Day parade as well, since it draws thousands of people from the region to downtown Roanoke. Hear the complete conversation with Izzy Post about the St. Patrick’s Day festivities on the link below;  watch it on Facebook.

David Bowers. Clark Palmer photos

A former Roanoke City Mayor has officially launched a new campaign for his old job. WFIR’s Clark Palmer has that story.

 

 

 

Previous: Former 4-term Roanoke Mayor David Bowers made it official today – he’ll run as a Republican for Mayor again this November, assuming the party gives him the nod.  Bowers says he hears from Roanokers that the city is “a mess,” and said today at his downtown law office that reducing gun violence should start with taking more of them off the streets – before searching for root causes. Bowers was a longtime Democrat and said switching parties only came after much thought and agonizing.

 

 

Photo: David Bowers Facebook

David Bowers announced yesterday he is again running to be Roanoke’s mayor, this time as a Republican. Bowers, who has served four terms as the star city’s mayor- three as a democrat- joins Democratic Vice Mayor Joe Cobb, and Independent city council woman Stephanie Moon Reynolds as current mayoral candidates. Bowers tells the Roanoke Times he will discuss his candidacy during a press conference at his law office on Church Avenue in downtown Roanoke today at 2:30 pm.