On March 14, 2023, the Department of Transportation (DOT) opened applications for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program, a $2.5 billion five-year program to support community and neighborhood electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.[1] The program was created by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The first round of funding will make $700 million available from fiscal years 2022 and 2023 to cities, counties, local governments, and tribes. The funding is split into two grant funding categories: the Community Program and the Corridor Program. The Community Program provides $1.25 billion to deploy EV charging infrastructure and other alternative-vehicle fueling infrastructure in communities, while the Corridor Program provides $1.25 billion to deploy projects along designated alternative fuel corridors (AFCs). Hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling infrastructure are eligible under these programs.
The CFI grant program builds on the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program and would further the Biden Administration’s goal of building a national network of 500,000 public EV charging stations and reducing national greenhouse gas emissions by 50 to 52 percent by 2030. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation will offer webinars for potential grant recipients in March and April. Applications for the grant are due by May 30, 2023.