WASHINGTON – The Biden-Harris Administration announced $623 million in grants to help build out an electric vehicle (EV) charging network across the United States. This is a critical part of the Biden Administration’s goal of building nation wide network of EV chargers. The aim includes having at least 500,000 publicly available chargers by 2030.
In US, EV sales have more than quadrupled in last four years. The number of publicly available charging ports has grown by nearly 70 percent, and more than 4 million EVs are now on the road. Private companies have announced more than $155 billion in the EV and battery supply chain.
This announcement reveals that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program makes these grants possible. It is a competitive funding program. The grants will fund 47 EV charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico. This includes the construction of approximately 7,500 EV charging ports. The CFI program complements the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program. It aims to build the “backbone” of high-speed EV chargers along our nation’s highways. Thanks to the NEVI program, new charging stations in Ohio and New York have opened. States like Pennsylvania and Maine have broken ground.
“America led the arrival of the automotive era. Now, we have a chance to lead the world in the EV revolution—securing jobs, savings, and benefits for Americans in the process,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This funding will help ensure that EV chargers are accessible, reliable, and convenient for American drivers. It will also create jobs in charger manufacturing, installation, and maintenance for American workers.”
The announcements include the Federal Highway Administration awarding $311 million to 36 “community” projects. Among the recipients are two Indian Tribes in Alaska and Arizona. These projects invest in EV charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure in urban and rural communities. They include convenient and high-use locations like schools, parks, libraries, multi-family housing, and more.
Another $312 million in funding will go to 11 “corridor” recipients. They have placed their projects along roadways designated as Alternative Fuel Corridors. Moreover, these projects will fill gaps in the core national charging and alternative-fueling network.
The CFI Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative. This initiative establishes a goal to ensure that disadvantaged communities marginalized by underinvestment and burdened by pollution receive 40% of the overall benefits of federal investments. More than 70% of the CFI funding announced today will support project sites in disadvantaged communities.
“Every community across the nation deserves access to convenient and reliable clean transportation,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “The Biden-Harris Administration is bringing an accessible, made-in-America charging network into thousands of communities. They are also cutting the carbon pollution that is driving the climate crisis.”
“From my time working at the local level, I know that finding electric vehicle charging in a community is different from finding charging along highways,” said U.S. Transportation Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg. “USDOT is proud to make an investment that will provide Americans with convenient, straightforward charging options in their communities.”
“The Federal Highway Administration announces these grants with pleasure. They will bring EV charging and alternative fuels to people and communities all across the nation,” said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. “These investments through the CFI Program will grow our national EV charging network. They will support President Biden’s goals of achieving net-zero emissions for the nation by 2050. Additionally, they will promote opportunity for all Americans to enjoy the benefits of EV charging.”
Project selections in this round of grants include:
- $10 million to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for building EV charging stations. The stations aim to serve residents in multi-family housing in disadvantaged communities and rural areas. The project will also focus on areas near transit stations. This focus aims to encourage the use of shared transportation services such as electric carshare and rideshare options.
- $15 million was allocated to the Maryland Clean Energy Center. The funds aim to build 87 electric vehicle charging stations in urban, suburban, and low- and moderate-income communities across the state. Proposed sites include Coppin State University, an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in Baltimore and 34 disadvantaged communities with multi-family housing. The project also includes workforce development programs. These programs offer services to help train, place, and retain people in good-paying jobs or registered apprenticeships.
- $70 million is allocated to the North Central Texas Council of Governments. The funds are intended for building up to five hydrogen fueling stations for medium- and heavy-duty freight trucks in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. Moreover, the project will help create a hydrogen corridor from southern California to Texas.
- $15 million was allocated to the County of Contra Costa in California. This funding aims to build a total of 52 fast chargers and 60 Level 2 chargers at 15 branch locations of the county’s library system.
- Energy Northwest, a joint operating agency in Washington State, will receive $15 million. This funding aims to support the installation of 40 fast chargers and 12 Level 2 chargers across western Washington State and northern Oregon. Moreover, the project will provide EV access to largely rural and disadvantaged communities, including on Indigenous Tribal lands.
- The City of Mesa, Arizona, will receive $12 million to build 48 electric vehicle chargers for various vehicle sizes, along with charging docks for e-bikes and e-scooters. Additionally, install solar canopies to support electricity generation at the stations.
- $1.4 million was allocated to the Chilkoot Indian Association, an Alaska Native Tribe. The funding intends to construct an EV charging station in Haines, a rural and disadvantaged community that currently lacks publicly available EV charging stations.
To provide a consistent charging experience for users that ensures a convenient, affordable and reliable national charging network, EV chargers constructed with CFI funds must adhere to the same minimum standards established for NEVI-funded chargers – including requirements that CFI-funded chargers are Made in America as well as installed and maintained in accordance with strong workforce standards. FHWA is working closely with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. Moreover, they are providing technical assistance on planning. Additionally, they actively implement a national network of electric vehicle chargers and zero-emission fueling infrastructure.
