TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida wants to use $166 million in Volkswagen settlement money to install electric vehicle charging stations along Florida's Turnpike and to replace diesel buses and shuttle vans with electric models.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis made the announcement Wednesday at a turnpike service plaza in Ocoee. DeSantis said three of the eight turnpike service plazas have vehicle charging stations.
DeSantis said the state also wants to replace dirtier diesel engines on tug boats with cleaner diesel engines.
The money is Florida's share of $2.9 billion states are receiving as part of a settlement with Volkswagen over an emissions scandal. The money is being used to help reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.
In 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Volkswagen installed software on 475,000 cars that let them cheat on emissions tests.