FHWA Set To Open First Round Of EV Infrastructure Installation Funding For All 50 States

U.S. Departments of Transportation and Energy last week announced the receipt of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure deployment plans from all 50 states. The plans are required in order for states to obtain federal funding under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.

The NEVI program was recently infused with $5 billion in funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to be distributed over a five-year period starting in fiscal year 2022.

The good news is that states are encouraged to contract with private third parties, including energy marketers, to locate, install, operate and maintain EV charging stations along the federal highway system.

States will need significant private party involvement because Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidelines prohibit installation of EV chargers at most highway rest areas.

Those guidelines also require deployment of NEVI funded EV charging stations to be located within one mile of highway exit ramps, prime real estate already dominated by energy marketers.

Some older highway rest areas with commercial activity in operation before the 1956 federal commercialization ban was adopted will be eligible for NEVI funded EV charging stations.

The FHWA will now review each state plan for compliance with federal EV siting guidelines.

The agency’s goal is to review the 50 state programs so that the first wave of NEVI funding can be distributed before the end of the federal fiscal year on September 30th.

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