Feds Approve Nationwide EV Charging Funds

A nationwide electric vehicle charging network is one step closer to becoming a reality after the Federal Highway Administration approved plans to unlock federal funding for all states and territories in an effort to eliminate ‘range anxiety’ and encourage faster adoption of electric vehicles.

As reported by Danielle McLean in Smart Cities Dive, “The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure formula program created through the bipartisan infrastructure law last year provides $5 billion to states over five years to build EV charging stations every 50 miles along the federal highway system.” The recent go-ahead unlocks $1.5 million in new funds.

“Some states in their plans raised concerns about the charging station rollout, saying their power grid may not have the capacity to accommodate the growing demand for EVs now or in the future.” Under the program, states also have to cover 20 percent of build-out costs. Supporters of electrification argue that fears of grid overloads due to electric vehicles are unfounded. As Samantha Houston wrote earlier this month in a rebuttal to what she termed the fossil fuel disinformation machine,’ “there is currently enough power generation and transmission currently to serve the increase in charging load from EV purchases in the next few years, particularly if they are charged at times when other demands for power are less (such as overnight) or at times of high renewable energy generation.”