Tulsa-Based Francis Energy Takes Lead In Oklahoma EV Charging Stations

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in 2021, allocated $5 billion over five years to facilitate the buildout of a nationwide network of fast chargers for electric vehicles, as an increasing number of Americans switch to EVs and as the administration encourages less dependence on fossil fuels.

That funding has attracted significant interest, including from businesses in Oklahoma, which is slated to get about $66 million of the NEVI (National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure) funds.

"Really, without public financing, these charging stations really would not get built," said David Jankowsky, founder and CEO of Tulsa-based Francis Energy.

Francis Energy has taken the lead in building EV charging stations in Oklahoma, with a network of 416 chargers (with 832 ports) across 122 locations.

Company officials said 356 of the chargers are Direct-current fast chargers and 60 those are level 2. What's more, the company has projects either completed or under construction in Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Alabama and Arkansas.

"We started building this network in 2019, focused on rural, underserved and Tribal communities," Jankowsky said in an interview this week, "and we proved that concept in 2019."

Jankowsky said the goal now is to expand that concept throughout the heartland, which he said is everywhere between the coastal states.

He and his vice president for government relations, Jason Pitcock, were in Washington this week trying to perhaps get an edge in the competition for the NEVI funds.

"We have received -- and this is really incredible -- just bipartisan support for what we are doing," Jankowsky stated.

Among the members, he said, who have been particularly supportive is Tulsa-area Representative Kevin Hern (R-OK1).

"We’ve met with everybody we can," said Rep. Hern in an interview Thursday, regarding the many Oklahoma groups trying to get in to see him during what is known on the Hill as 'fly-in season.'

Congressman Hern didn't support the infrastructure bill when it came up for a vote because he said it was too anti-fossil fuel. But said what Francis is doing fits right in with Oklahoma's all-of-the-above approach to energy.

"[Oklahoma does] a lot in the world of alternative energies," Hern said, "I think the charging stations that Francis Energy does are something that’s unique to our state...they do a lot of great work."

Jankowsky believes Francis can be the preeminent player in building out the public charging network envisioned by the Biden administration -- with a little help.

"All kinds of public monies have materialized in the last two years, thanks greatly to the administration," Jankowsky said, "and that is what is going enable this network."

The NEVI funds get doled through fiscal year 2026. Jankowski said that means construction of the EV network should be complete around 2028.