Now, federal funding will help train the people who can keep those cars running.

Some of that money will go to education programs to support electric vehicle growth in the state.The investment was announced at an event today here at wake tech you can see the big check right over here nearly $1 million going to train the next generation of electric vehicle technicians here.

Justin Hughes is about a year into his automotive program at Wake Tech, hoping technology supplied by the new funding will give him the skills needed to enter a growing ev job market…

“Without this program, I would be a lot less off without it," he says.

Dubbed “grid to plug to wheels," programs supported by the funding aim to prepare 2-year technicians to be able to maintain and repair infrastructure as well as service vehicles

Details announced at an event this morning attended by leaders including Congresswoman Deborah Ross, who helped to secure the federal investment.

"It's so important that we train the technicians that we need to move into an electric vehicle future," says Ross.

North Carolina surpassed 50,000 electric vehicle registrations this year, with the goal to have more than 1.25 million registered in the state by 2050.

"It’s a constant need for technology and for professional development so our faculty who are going out different places and so that’s where the funding helps us stay in front for the equipment and professional development needs," she says.

The president of Wake Tech says this investment is a great start, but more funding is needed with this rapidly advancing industry – and more companies head to North Carolina and the labor gap continues to widen.