The American electric vehicle (EV) charging landscape is poised for a rapid expansion following the announcement of $623 million in grants by the Administration, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program.
These grants are set to fund 47 EV charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico.
The primary goal of these grants is to accelerate President Biden’s vision of establishing a robust national network of 500,000 EV chargers. The grants, targeting the construction of approximately 7,500 EV charging ports, will play a pivotal role in shaping the country’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office) will play a crucial role in supporting the CFI program by providing technical assistance to grant awardees during the implementation of their funds. This is part of the Joint Office’s broader mission to build clean transportation infrastructure across the nation, offering planning and implementation resources for various entities, including transit agencies, school districts, tribes, governments, and communities.
The CFI program aligns with the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, which focuses on funding the installation of EV chargers along the nation’s highways. When combined with the significant private investments exceeding $150 billion since President Biden assumed office, these federal efforts mark a turning point in making electric transportation accessible to all.
Gabe Klein, the Executive Director of the Joint Office, highlights the context sensitivity of the CFI program. It allows communities to tailor their charging infrastructure to meet specific e-mobility needs, considering factors like residential, work, and recreational charging requirements. The awarded grants will fuel innovative projects, including charging and hydrogen fueling for heavy-duty trucks, electrification at multifamily housing, and multimodal charging hubs.
A notable aspect of the CFI grants is their dedication to filling gaps in the charging network in underserved urban and rural communities. With over 70% of funding allocated to disadvantaged communities, the CFI program exceeds the Justice40 goal, ensuring that 40% of the overall benefits of federal investments flow to these communities.
