VALDOSTA, Ga. — In the face of unceasing advances in technology and the demand for cleaner transportation, the federal government is looking to create a national network of electric vehicle charging stations — and Valdosta is already in on it.

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently named the stretch of Interstate 75 from Valdosta to Tifton an “Alternative Fuel Corridor,” meaning it has enough charging stations to fuel the electric vehicles traveling in the area.

John Hibbard, Georgia Department of Transportation director of operations, said “enough” is a subjective term when deciding how many charging stations it takes for a road or highway to be designated an AFC.

In Valdosta and Tifton’s case, it’s three. Griner Nissan in Valdosta and Tenneson Nissan in Tifton both have charging stations, and the Tifton Starbucks even has a Tesla charging station.

Heading north on I-75 from Tifton, the next charging station is 75 miles up the road in Perry. Heading south from Valdosta, the next electric charging stop isn’t until Lake City, 62 miles later.

The DOT’s Federal Highway Administration is designating AFCs throughout the country in an attempt to let people with progressive transportation know where they can fuel up and to encourage use of the electric vehicles, which are cost and environmentally friendly.

“Transportation and vehicle technology is rapidly changing and meeting those changes requires new approaches,” GDOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry said in a press release. “Georgia DOT recognizes the importance of existing charging infrastructure, and we encourage additional private investment to promote greater mobility options for alternative fuel vehicles.”

Hibbard said while GDOT supports and encourages the development of a nationwide infrastructure of electric charging stations, it will leave the actual construction and installation of the stations to other organizations.

The hands-off approach comes partly from charging stations are found in what Hibbard said are “unconventional locations,” such as businesses instead of gas stations.

Though the overwhelming majority of electric vehicles are sold in California, Georgia has remained one of the top states for electric car sales in the past several years.

The developing AFC network spans 48 highways, 25,000 miles and 35 states.