As more Arizona drivers operate electric vehicles, the Arizona Department of Transportation is laying out the groundwork for a statewide network of charging stations.

More than 76 million in federal money will be sent through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program to help establish public charging stations along interstate highways.

State transportation spokesman Doug Nick says that specific details in the plan, like the projected date and duration of construction, are still being worked out and will be sent to the Federal Highway Administration in August.

“Essentially we’re going to be looking at places where the infrastructure can be placed less than a mile from an interstate highway and we have some potential locations and places such as truck stops, shopping centers,” Nick said.

Nick said about 40,000 electric vehicles are registered in Arizona, and if that number continues to grow, so will the need for charging stations.