Biden-Harris Administration Making $100 Million Available to Improve EV Charger Reliability

Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law targets gaps in the growing electric vehicle charging network, helping ensure more reliable publicly accessible chargers

WASHINGTON – The Biden-Harris Administration today opened applications for the Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator which will provide up to $100 million in Federal funding to repair and replace existing but non-operational, electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. These targeted investments will complement hundreds of billions in private sector investment, support good paying jobs across the country installing, maintaining, and repairing EV infrastructure, and make our current charging network more reliable. Reliability is a critical component to the Biden-Harris Administration’s comprehensive approach to build a convenient, affordable, reliable, equitable, and Made-in-America national EV charging network.

“Under President Biden’s leadership, America is leading the electric vehicle revolution. This funding represents the latest step toward building a convenient, affordable, reliable charging network that reaches every corner of our nation,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. 

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, a $5 billion program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by the Federal Highway Administration to help states build out EV charging sites, stipulates a 10% set-aside for grants to States and localities that require additional assistance to strategically deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The first round of funding will focus on improving the reliability of the current network by repairing or replacing existing EV charging infrastructure at the same time the Biden-Harris Administration is making larger-scale investments to deploy new charging stations. 

“Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we are building up a national EV charging network with chargers Made in the U.S.A.,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Today’s investment is a pivotal step toward revitalizing our current charging infrastructure making EV driving cheaper, more reliable, and more convenient.”

Based on initial estimates of non-operational chargers, FHWA anticipates that the available $100 million in funding will likely cover the repair or replacement costs of all eligible projects, which will be awarded through a streamlined application process. This includes both publicly and privately owned chargers – so long as they are available to the public without restriction.

“Charging your electric vehicle should be as easy and convenient as filling up a gas tank – and this investment will make our EV charging network more reliable, full stop,” said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. “We’re building a bigger EV charging network to keep up with driver demand, and we’re also going to make sure the currently available network is working when you need a charge.”

The program is informed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) Station Locator, which identifies offline stations as temporarily unavailable. A charger can be identified as temporarily unavailable for several reasons, ranging from routine maintenance to power issues. On September 11, 2023, the AFDC indicated that out of 151,506 public charging ports, 6,261 (4.1%) were temporarily unavailable.

Eligible applicants and projects for the EV Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator are outlined in a Notice of Funding Opportunity published today. Applications are due by November 13, 2023.

Read more about the Biden-Harris Administration’s $7.5 billion investment to make our EV charging network bigger and more reliable and has helped spur more than $130 billion in new private sector investment in electric vehicle, battery, and EV charging manufacturing – including over $100 billion in US EV battery manufacturing alone.

Today’s announcement builds on a comprehensive series of EV-related actions taken by the Biden-Harris Administration. 

• In May 2023, the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation with three national laboratories launched the National Charging Experience Consortium (ChargeX) to improve the existing charging experience and released its Ride and Drive Electric FOA which will support workforce development, an equitable transition, and American-made EV chargers.
• In March 2023, FHWA announced it had opened applications for the first round of the CFI Discretionary Grant Program with up to $700 million available from FY22 and FY23 to strategically deploy EV charging in communities and neighborhoods nationwide.
• In February 2023, FHWA announced finalized standards to make charging electric vehicles convenient, affordable, reliable, equitable, and safe for all Americans – no matter what car you drive or what state you charge in.
• In February 2023, the White House announced an implementation plan for President Biden’s Build America, Buy America requirements that will incentivize companies to invest in domestic production of EV charging components, positioning U.S. workers and businesses to compete and lead globally in a critical industry while providing a common-sense transition period for companies to onshore complex supply chains.
• In September 2022, FHWA approved all 52 EV charging plans from States, Puerto Rico, and DC – unlocking approximately $1.5 billion in FY22 and FY23 NEVI formula funding that can be used to implement those plans.

For more information on President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and investments in electric vehicles, please visit FHWA’s BIL web site. 
 

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