First 35 State Plans to Build Out EV Charging Infrastructure Approved By Federal Government

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 16, 2022

The Biden Administration on Sept. 14 announced that more than two-thirds of electric vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Deployment Plans from states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have been approved ahead of schedule under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.

“With this early approval, these states can now unlock more than $900 million in NEVI formula funding from FY22 and FY23 to help build EV chargers across approximately 53,000 miles of highway across the country,” the Department of Energy said in a news release.

The NEVI formula funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes $5 billion available over five years.

Prior to the approval of plans announced on Sept. 14, state departments of transportation (DOTs) were able to begin staffing and activities directly related to the development of their plans.

After plan approval, states can be reimbursed for those costs and now have a wide range of options to use their NEVI Formula funding for projects directly related to the charging of a vehicle, which could include:

• Upgrade of existing and construction of new EV charging infrastructure
• Operation and maintenance costs of these charging stations
• Installation of on-site electrical service equipment
• Community and stakeholder engagement
• Workforce development activities
• EV charging station signage
• Data sharing activities and
• Related mapping analysis and activities

Proposed standards for EV charging require electricians working on EV charging infrastructure installation to be certified through the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program, a non-profit, industry-recognized training program.

Approved plans are available on the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and funding tables for the full five years of the NEVI Formula program can be viewed here.

The FHWA has reviewed state EV infrastructure deployment plans in close coordination with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation and is working to approve all plans as quickly as possible.

The remaining plans will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis as the plan approvals are finalized. As a plan is approved, state DOTs will be able to access funding to develop their EV charging infrastructure through the use of NEVI Formula Program funds.

FHWA is also working on related efforts to establish ground rules for how formula NEVI funds can be spent.

FHWA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on proposed minimum standards and requirements for projects funded under the NEVI Formula Program and plans to finalize that rulemaking expeditiously now that the comment period has closed.

FHWA also proposed a Buy America waiver that will allow a short ramp up period for the domestic manufacturing of EV charging. The comment period for the waiver proposal is open through September 30, 2022.

FHWA and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation will continue to provide direct technical assistance and support to states as plans are reviewed and approved, as well as throughout the lifetime of the NEVI Formula Program.

The joint office this summer announced a partnership to support EV charging with APPA, Edison Electric Institute, and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association to inform electric system investments and support state planning.