States Still Have Access to About $4 Billion in NEVI Funds for EV Charging

In July 2026, Atlas Public Policy published a new fact sheet, titled Fact Sheet: Out of Juice? What’s Next For NEVI. Most notably, the fact sheet said states still have access to approximately $4 billion in NEVI funds for new electric vehicle (EV) charging installations, with around $739 million already awarded.

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, created through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in November 2021, remains one of the largest federal efforts to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the United States. The five-year, $5 billion program was designed to help states build reliable fast-charging networks along major travel corridors, improve access for EV drivers, encourage private investment, and reduce transportation emissions.

When NEVI launched, many state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) had limited experience managing EV charging programs. States quickly developed new processes, submitted infrastructure plans, and began awarding contracts for charging projects. By early 2025, more than $526 million had been obligated, supporting nearly 4,000 direct current fast charging (DCFC) ports at approximately 990 locations.

The program later faced significant uncertainty. In February 2025, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) suspended NEVI activities, creating concerns about future deployments. In January 2026, Congress rescinded more than $503 million in NEVI funding across 30 states and territories, reducing the amount of federal funding available for future charging projects.

Despite those setbacks, NEVI continues moving forward. Updated FHWA guidance issued in August 2025 allowed states to submit final fiscal year 2026 plans and access remaining funding. By May 2026, 42 states and territories had received approval for their final plans, and 12 states had been designated as “fully built out” along their federally designated charging corridors.

States receiving fully built-out status gain more flexibility in using remaining NEVI funds. While earlier guidance required fast chargers to be placed every 50 miles along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors and within one mile of those routes, updated rules allow states greater flexibility to support additional charging needs, including community Level 2 charging and medium- and heavy-duty vehicle charging.

The 2026 funding rescission reduced NEVI allocations in 30 states and territories by nearly $504 million. The cuts are expected to eliminate approximately 3,700 planned fast-charging ports. Texas, Florida, Missouri, and Virginia experienced some of the largest funding reductions, potentially affecting hundreds of future charging installations.

Some states that had already issued funding opportunities or awarded contracts now face difficult decisions about whether to replace lost federal dollars with state funding or other programs. Nevada, which lost more than 33% of its NEVI allocation, faces particular challenges in completing planned corridor charging projects.

However, significant funding remains available. States still have access to approximately $4 billion in NEVI funds, with around $739 million already awarded. The program has also encouraged major private-sector investment, with analysis showing that private companies announced roughly $2 in investment for every $1 of public funding.

Based on current projections, NEVI could support up to 22,200 fast-charging ports or 347,000 combined Level 2 and fast-charging ports nationwide. These installations could provide enough charging capacity to support approximately 3.7 million EVs.

Challenges remain, including potential changes to domestic manufacturing requirements, future funding uncertainty, and continued permitting and construction hurdles. However, private companies such as Tesla, EVgo, and IONNA continue investing heavily in charging infrastructure. Together with public programs like NEVI, these investments are helping build the nationwide charging network needed to support continued EV adoption.

Despite political and funding challenges, NEVI remains a critical part of America’s transition toward electric transportation.