The Biden administration has announced $623 million in grants to support the development of an electric vehicle (EV) charging network across major highways and community-level locations in the United States. This move is in line with President Biden’s goal to establish a convenient, affordable, and domestically produced national network of EV chargers, with a target of at least 500,000 publicly accessible chargers by 2030.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed optimism about the opportunities presented by the EV revolution, stating, America led the arrival of the automotive era, and now we have a chance to lead the world in the EV revolution — securing jobs, savings, and benefits for Americans in the process.
The EV market has experienced significant growth in recent years, with sales quadrupling during President Biden’s term. Publicly available charging ports have also increased by 70%, while over 4 million EVs now traverse American roads, according to the Department of Transportation.
The announcement of the $623 million in grants coincides with the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which designates $2.5 billion for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program. The CFI program, a competitive funding initiative, will finance 47 projects focused on EV charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure across 22 states and Puerto Rico. This includes the construction of approximately 7,500 EV charging ports. Additionally, the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program will receive $5 billion to establish a network of high-speed EV chargers along the nation’s highways.
Of the $623 million in grant funding, $311 million will be allocated to community projects, including those in Alaska and Arizona Tribal lands. These projects aim to develop EV charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure in urban and rural areas, specifically targeting locations such as schools, parks, libraries, and multi-family housing complexes to enhance convenience and accessibility.
The remaining $312 million will fund 11 projects along major travel routes across the country. Termed Alternative Fuel Corridors, these initiatives are expected to bridge gaps in the core national charging and alternative-fueling network.
The initiative has garnered support from various officials, including U.S. Transportation Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg. Drawing from her experience at the local level, Trottenberg emphasized the importance of providing easily accessible charging options in communities, stating, USDOT is proud to make an investment that will provide Americans with convenient, straightforward charging options in their communities.
The grants announced by the Biden administration reflect a concerted effort to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in the United States. By investing in charging infrastructure at both the community and highway levels, the government aims to address the growing demand for convenient and accessible EV charging options. As the market continues to evolve, these measures will undoubtedly contribute to a greener and more sustainable transportation future.
