The Maryland Government has outlined a new $1m public-private grant program to develop a statewide network of Level 3 fast-charge electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

Expected to stretch from Garrett County to Ocean City to Southern Maryland and beyond, specific locations for the charging stations are yet to be determined.

These charging stations, which must be located near major highways, are expected to enable electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids to reach an 80% charge in less than 30 minutes.

To be administered and monitored Maryland Energy Administration, the public-private grant program will be advertised to private sector businesses in the coming months

The Maryland Department of the Environment and the Maryland Department of Transportation have participated in the development of this grant program.

Maryland Attorney General Douglas F Gansler said that electric vehicles are the wave of the future and this network will position Maryland as a leader in the use of fast-charge technology.

"This initiative will enable current and future EV owners to use their cars more often, foster job growth in Maryland, keep Maryland money in Maryland and help achieve Maryland’s long-term air quality goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions," Gansler added.

Currently, General Motors’ manufacturing facility in Baltimore County produces electric drive motors for the Chevrolet Spark EV. In addition, 15 other EV models including Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf and the Ford Focus EV, are being sold in Maryland.

Development of the new fast-charging stations is expected to help encourage a bigger EV market in Maryland.

The money for the project has been received from a settlement with American Electric Power Service over violations of the Clean Air Act.