(Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN / Contributor / AFP via Getty Images)
Just a flicker of hope remains for a Biden administration dream of a nationwide EV charging network where stations are "as easy to find as gas stations."
Although Biden earmarked $5 billion for the network, which we watched him tip off in a hopeful speech at the 2022 Detroit Auto Show, Trump froze the disbursement of those funds on his first day back in office. Still, $3.27 billion had already been given to the states, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) tells PCMag, so what happens to those funds? Can the federal government take the money back, and if not, will it still go toward EV chargers?
A Small Sliver of the $5 Billion Is Already Committed
At this point, the federal government does not appear to have authority to take it back. So, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ordered the states to stop using the funds until his office provides "updated guidance" for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program.
But a small sliver of that $3+ billion will still be used for EV chargers. The USDOT says states can finish up existing construction projects, which amount to $469.5 million. They've also spent $42.8 million so far. By our math, when combined with the $469.5 million in future projects, that means just $512.3 million—or around 10%—of the original $5 billion dream is on track.
While we don't know how many stations that money will fund, any way you slice it, Biden's vision of a government-funded, fully electrified "great American road trip" is on hold indefinitely.
The image below from the Texas DOT is an example of chargers that will still happen despite the funding freeze. But they're not exactly as cohesive as, say, the nationwide highway system. All future charging stations are "on hold until we receive further guidance from the Federal Highway Association (FHWA)," the Texas DOT says.
Is the NEVI Program Doomed?
The USDOT will issue revised guidelines for NEVI funding this spring. The guidelines will then enter a public comment period, after which the DOT will issue final guidelines, though there's no solid timeline on that.
"The law establishing the NEVI Formula Program gives the Secretary unique authority regarding the submission and assessment of state plans," the USDOT says. "We are utilizing this authority to ensure the program operates efficiently and effectively and aligns with current USDOT policies and priorities."
While states can still use their own funding, "in some cases, NEVI funding represented most, if not all, of the funding states had for EV infrastructure deployment," Brett Howell, Oregon Department of Transportation electrification coordinator, tells PCMag.
Duffy, like Trump, has taken a vocal stance against EVs, so there's reason to believe this may be the end of NEVI. The program's slow rollout has drawn bipartisan criticism; only about 50 NEVI-backed chargers are operating as of this writing. That makes for a good GOP talking point should Duffy move to repurpose the funds for something other than EV charging.
Of course, a nationwide, fast public charging network is complex and expensive project. Some states say they were just getting started.
"The [USDOT] February 6 memo introduced a level of uncertainty for the program nationwide during a crucial moment for deployment," says Oregon's Howell. "There is always a learning curve associated with new programs, but we are starting to see charging stations constructed nationwide."
Tesla CEO Elon Musk's work with the Trump administration as a "special government employee" with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has not been a lifeline for US EV adoption efforts. Although Tesla has received nearly $3 billion in government subsidies over time and a $465 million loan from the Department of Energy in 2010, Musk approves of cutting off federal EV benefits for other brands, partly because it will help Tesla fend off rising competition.
States in 'Chaos'
Trump's eagerness to strike down NEVI have left state DOTs in a general state of confusion. Several we spoke to said they are still mapping Duffy's curt, 1.5-page memo to the intricate plans they spent years developing.
“All of the states are in different stages, which is where all of the chaos comes from," says Matt Noble, public affairs specialist for the Oregon DOT. "We happen to be in a good spot but other states aren’t.”
Oregon is building chargers on three of the eight roads on its initial roadmap. That amounts to $10.5 million of the $26 million it has approved. “Where it gets fuzzy for us is that we still have about $15 million left over, where we haven't gotten to the construction stage yet," Noble says. Unsure what the Trump administration will come out with in the spring, Oregon wants to be risk-averse on spending "public money until we know we can get reimbursement."
Washington state is also seeking clarification from FHWA "and other partners about the implications and next steps of federal funding actions," says Stefanie Randolph, communications director for the Washington State Department of Transportation. It is bracing for the "potential loss" of the NEVI program, but remains committed to using state funding "to create a robust, reliable charging infrastructure available to all citizens throughout the state."
The Maryland DOT is pressing forward with its plans because "clean car charging saves consumers money and reduces climate pollution." In December, it opened the second round of NEVI funding applications for EV charging companies. However, it's also awaiting the USDOT's new guidance, noting that it is a "Congressionally authorized program."