US to Invest Over $500 Million in Expanding EV Charging Infrastructure
The US government has announced plans to release an additional $521 million in grants for the development of over 9,200 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across thirty states.
The majority of the funding will come from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program, following a new round of funding that started in late May. Since the current administration took office, the number of public charging points in the US has doubled, with over 192,000 stations now available. According to the administration, about 1,000 new charging points are added each week.
The funds will be distributed relatively evenly among the states, with California receiving the largest share. Among California's five funded projects, the smallest is a $3 million investment in the 'Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians CFI Project,' which aims to install 70 charging stations on the Reservation and along Route 50. The largest project in the state, the 'West Coast Truck Charging and Fueling Corridor Project,' will receive $102 million to establish EV charging and hydrogen fueling stations for zero-emission trucks along 2,500 miles of key freight corridors spanning California, Oregon, and Washington. This marks the largest single investment of the funding round.
In contrast, the smallest project funded will be in University City, a St. Louis suburb, which will receive $500,000 to install up to 32 charging stations in an underserved area, improving connectivity for residents and visitors to the St. Louis metro area.
"The Biden-Harris Administration is making sure America leads the transition to electric vehicles, supported by a nationwide network of accessible and reliable EV chargers," said US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "These grants will ensure that the cost savings, environmental benefits, and job opportunities associated with EVs are available to all Americans."