{"id":14292,"date":"2025-03-03T01:00:50","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T06:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pluginamerica.org\/?p=14292"},"modified":"2025-03-04T10:10:16","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T15:10:16","slug":"whats-going-on-with-nevi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pluginamerica.org\/whats-going-on-with-nevi\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s going on with NEVI?"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Feb. 6, 2025, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sent a <\/span>letter to states<\/span><\/a> that suspended charging infrastructure funding that had been legally allocated to states\u2019 departments of transportation by law. You may remember that the <\/span>National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI)<\/span><\/a> program is a $7.5 billion appropriation passed by Congress in 2021 as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The massive infrastructure bill included funding for over <\/span>50,000 different infrastructure projects<\/span><\/a> across America. It also included $5 billion in formula funding that is allocated to each state to build out a <\/span>network of EV charging stations along highways across the country<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 Up until this letter was issued, states were using these funds for hundreds of EV charging projects in various stages of development across the country. This nationwide EV charging network was intended to make long-distance travel for EV drivers easier and more convenient; building range confidence for EV drivers and enabling more people to drive electric.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How was this suspension put into play?<\/b><\/h3>\n

To ensure charging quality and consistency, the NEVI program requires states to submit an annual plan to be approved by the Secretary of Transportation. The flow of funding to states relies on approved state plans. Additionally, the implementation of the NEVI program relies on official finalized <\/span>guidance<\/span><\/a> from the Federal Highway Administration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The FHWA <\/span>letter<\/span><\/a> to all state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) rescinded the official NEVI guidance and halted all funding to states. FHWA effectively yanked approval for <\/span>all<\/b> state plans. Essentially, by withdrawing approval for states\u2019 plans, the administration was able to isolate and impound funding for the buildout of public EV charging infrastructure under the NEVI program. The letter indicates that the FHWA plans to \u201creview the policies underlying the implementation of the NEVI Formula Program,\u201d but it\u2019s clear this is part of a larger strategy to slow or eliminate the buildout of a national charging network.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What does this mean for states?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Put succinctly, it\u2019s causing a lot of chaos for state DOTs. Right now, states are unclear if they can move forward with projects that have completed contracts, solicitations for new projects, and planning for future years. This leaves us all with far too many unanswered questions. How does a state honor a signed contract with a company to install a charger when they may no longer have the funds available via the NEVI program to support the contract? What happens now to all of the electricians, installers, and other people who have been actively working on these projects or were expecting to in the near future?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This funding freeze impacts states differently depending on how far along their projects are and whether funds have been obligated and received from the federal government. States are responding to this suspension differently. Some states, like Arkansas, South Carolina, Vermont, and Michigan, have chosen to put their entire NEVI program on hold. Other states seem to be pressing forward with NEVI<\/span> projects, like Minnesota, Kentucky, Texas, and Illinois. And it\u2019s changing by the day. Depending on when you read this, some states may have made different choices with their programs. Check out our <\/span>NEVI tracker map<\/span><\/a> for a more comprehensive look at how states are responding. To our knowledge, it is the only map that is being updated in real-time based on state plans. We also have the map below from Transportation for America<\/a> that illustrates which states have the most to lose if NEVI funds are taken away.
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