Electric Vehicles

Talk Business and Politics' Michael Tilley Joins Ozarks at Large's Kyle Kellams to discuss headlines from this past week around the Arkansas River Valley.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation is providing nearly $15 million to help facilitate 19 different electric vehicle charging stations across the state.

Minerals like lithium are critical for a transition away from fossil fuels, and it turns out south Arkansas may hold the key to an electric future. But is an electric future environmentally sustainable, and how do bromine extraction wells fit into the picture? Ozarks at Large’s Jack Travis is taking us out of Northwest Arkansas and down south to an old oil field with the potential to economically impact the entire nation.

On today's show, a new extraction method to gather an increasingly critical metal. Also, a plan to get more medical care to rural Arkansas. Plus, Aladdin’s genie is ready for his role.

This week’s episode of “I Am Northwest Arkansas” is about the past, present and future of electric vehicles in Northwest Arkansas. Host Randy Wilborn talks with founder and president of the Tesla Owners Club of Arkansas Gary Berger, policy director at the Northwest Arkansas Council Rob Smith, the director of energy services at Ozarks Electric Cooperative Kris Williams.

On today's show, the University of Arkansas — Fort Smith bucks a recent trend of childcare center closures. Plus, exploring engineering wonders of the ancient world. Also, discussing a Fayetteville-centered bucket list.

On today's show, although the the number of charging stations in Northwest Arkansas is modest, there a few statewide initiatives to help grow the electric vehicle infrastructure. Plus, local music, a new episode of "Sound Perimeter" and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders talk about rolling out the LEARNS Act.

Walmart recently announced a plan to expand its electric vehicle charging network at thousands of store locations. The current count of EV charging stations in the region is modest, but a few statewide initiatives will likely grow the infrastructure rapidly.

The "Protect Arkansas Act" and a bill requiring an age verification requirement is on the way to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders desk. Plus, Walmart is planning to build more electric vehicle charging stations and the Holi Festival will be at The Momentary in Bentonville.

Electric vehicles are becoming more popular in the state and nation. Plans for Arkansas’ statewide network of charging stations were approved earlier this month and before that, Canoo, an electric car company, relocated its headquarters in Northwest Arkansas. The Drive Electric NWA event this past Saturday aimed to answer questions about ownership and infrastructure.