On January 11, 2024, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced $623 million in grants to build out the electric vehicle (EV) charging network.[1] The Biden administration aims to build at least 500,000 publicly available chargers by 2030. The grants announced by DOT are part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program. They will fund 47 EV charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico, including the construction of about 7,500 EV charging ports. As part of the announcement, the Federal Highway Administration will award $311 million to 36 community projects, including two Indian Tribes in Alaska and Arizona. Community projects invest in EV charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure in urban and rural communities. Another $312 million in funding will go to 11 corridor recipients whose projects are located along roadways designated as Alternative Fuel Corridors. Corridor projects will fill gaps in the core national charging and alternative-fueling network.

More than 70% of the announced CFI funding will support project sites in disadvantaged communities, advancing the Biden administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which set a goal of 40% of the overall benefits of federal investments flowing to disadvantaged communities. EV chargers constructed with CFI funds must follow the same standards established for chargers funded under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program, including domestic manufacturing and workforce standards.

[1] https://highways.dot.gov/newsroom/biden-harris-administration-announces-623-million-grants-continue-building-out-electric