In the 20th century, giant oil companies raced to build as many service stations as they could to fuel America’s gas guzzlers. Today, amid the rise of electric cars, a new battle is underway to install charging stations, where drivers plug in instead of fill up.

The infrastructure bill that cleared a Senate hurdle last week included some big spending for clean energy, like electric buses, hydrogen power, and charging stations for electric vehicles. However, some clean energy sectors want more

Regional alliances are emerging as utilities join with one another—and with charging-station builders and government agencies—to plan the thousands of charging stations needed to bridge the gaps between U.S. cities.

The fastest electric car charging stations can replenish a battery from empty in about an hour. As carmakers from Volvo to Tesla race to make charges speedier and more powerful, the next 10 years mean added pressure on charging stations, from the plugs in homes to the stands at supermarkets.