U.S. Transportation Department Approves Plans for Nationwide EV Charging Network

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Sept. 27 announced it has approved electric vehicle infrastructure deployment plans for all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, or NEVI, formula program. The initiative, created by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or IIJA, provides $5 billion to states over five years to develop a national electric vehicle charging network.

As a result of the approval, all states now have accessibility to fiscal year 2022 and 2023 NEVI formula financing, adding up to more than $1.5 billion to assist the development of EV chargers encompassing around 75,000 miles of highway across the U.S.

Under the NEVI Formula Program, states provided their EV infrastructure deployment plans to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. The White House has spent around $135 billion toward electric vehicle expansion and construction and is aiming to develop a national network of 500,000 EV charging stations by 2030.

Despite a rise in EV sales in recent years, the transportation sector is the U.S.’s greatest cause of greenhouse gas emissions. The shortage of accessible charging stations is one of the main obstacles to EV growth across the U.S. The country has outlined a bold objective for 50 percent of all new vehicles offered in 2030 to be zero-emissions vehicles. Transforming U.S. cars to EVs is an imperative route to accomplishing the President’s goal of lessening their emissions. In order for this goal to be practical, an accessible network of public chargers is required and is viewed as an essential instrument to assist this transition.

The NEVI Formula funding for projects related to charging of a vehicle can be used for various tasks including upgrading of current and building of new EV charging infrastructure, operating and upkeep expenses of these charging stations, fitting of on-site electrical service apparatus, community and stakeholder engagement and workforce development activities, among other things.

Tax credits included in the newly approved Inflation Reduction Act will provide consumers with tax credits to purchase new and used EVs, as well as an additional $3 billion accessible to support access to EV charging for economically disadvantaged communities.

Other sources of funding include the $2.5 billion Discretionary Grant Program for Charging and Fuelling Infrastructure, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Program.