U.S Transportation Department Proposes Standards for National EV Network

The  U.S. Transportation Department has commenced setting standards for constructing a nationwide network of 500,000 electric vehicle chargers by 2030. To this end, the department’s Federal Highways Administration announced a notice of proposed rulemaking to set standards for electric vehicle charging stations under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, or NEVI, program. The minimum standards to be set are geared toward ensuring that the network is safe, reliable, customer-friendly, and accessible to all Americans and residents all over the country, whether they live in the urban or rural areas. Also, the rules would ensure that the stations are interoperable between different charging service providers, with similar payment and charging speeds systems. The proposed benchmarks would aid the development of a hitch-free system of automobile charging infrastructure that is capable of communicating and operating on the same software platforms among states, managing traffic control devices, and establishing a public charging database.

The proposed measure will help lay a foundation for states to build electric vehicle charging stations with funding from the federal government as mandated by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. As part of efforts to implement the law and demonstrate the commitment of President Joe Biden to the availability and accessibility of vehicle charging centers, the department of energy and transportation will jointly provide states with $5 billion funding over five years to build the stations under the NEVI program.

The infrastructure development and accompanying requirements will provide certification standards for installation, operation, and maintenance of chargers to ensure that the funds support highly skilled and well-paying jobs to the populace while significantly reducing the American carbon footprint. The proposal would also support the creation of a clean energy workforce, offer on-the-job training, enhance American competitiveness and contribute to achieving the long-term climate objectives.