The $1m public-private grant scheme, announced by Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler this week, will be administered and monitored by the Maryland Energy Administration and is aimed at curbing range anxiety and improving the market for electric vehicles in the state.

These will offer an 80% charge in less than 30 minutes and are to be spread across an area spanning from Garrett County in the North West to Ocean City in the North East, down to Southern Maryland and beyond, allowing electric vehicle drivers to travel longer distances with short “refuelling” stops.

Although 15 electric and plug-in hybrid models are available in Maryland, manufacturers have tended to prioritise states such as California which have sales and usage incentives in place. General Motors produces motors for the Chevrolet Spark EV in Baltimore County, but doesn’t sell the car itself in Maryland.

The state is targeting 60,000 registered electric vehicles by 2020, accounting for 2.3% of the total vehicle parc and a 20-fold increase over the 3,000 which are currently in use on Maryland’s roads.

Attorney General Gansler said: ‘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.’