Fighting Federally-Funded NEVI EV Charging Misinformation

Claims circulating on social media, that the Biden administration spent billions of dollars constructing only a handful of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are false. The Biden administration has indeed allocated substantial funding for EV infrastructure, but this money is part of a long-term strategy to build a nationwide network of EV chargers.

The claims misrepresent federal funding set aside by the 2021 Infrastructure and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, for a national network of publicly available electric vehicle chargers. President Biden set a goal of creating 500,000 such chargers by 2030.

AP News provided the truth, proving that claims that the Biden administration spent $7.5 billion to build only eight electric vehicle (EV) charging stations is false.

The $7.5 billion figure refers to the total funding allocated through the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for developing a nationwide EV charging network. This allocation aims to establish 500,000 chargers across the United States by 2030.

As of now, the Federal Highway Administration reports that 214 chargers are operational across 12 states using funds from this initiative, with 24,800 projects currently in progress nationwide. The process involves planning, partnerships, and construction, ensuring that the network meets long-term goals for accessibility and sustainability.

The claims misrepresent the scope and status of the program, confusing the amount of the allocated budget with the work completed thus far, and disregard the larger infrastructure-building timeline inherent to such large-scale projects.

The most recent NEVI-funded EV charging station was in Deerfield, MA, installing the region’s first DC fast chargers (four ports) as well as four slower Level 2 charging ports. The project was built with $2.46 million in CFI funding, and announced by the Joint Office on November 15. The project offers access to multiple modes of transportation. Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA) Local and Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) Regional bus stops are nearby, as well as bike lanes for safe bicycle access, with secure on-site bike racks.

A charger, also called a charging port, provides electric power to one electric vehicle at a time through a connector, which is plugged into the EV. Stations are physical locations that can have multiple chargers. Often, people outside of the industry get these terms mixed up.

Rep. Michael Rulli, a Republican from Ohio, was among multiple high-profile political figures who falsely claimed last week that the entire budget has already been spent.

“Pete Buttigieg will leave his post as Transportation Secretary having spent $7.5 BILLION to build 8 EV charging stations,” he wrote in an X post. “His legacy will be squandering billions on something nobody wants, while millions struggle to afford the things they need.”

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg described the claims spreading online “false” in a series of X posts.

“$7.5B has not been spent, nor anything like that,” wrote Buttigieg, adding that federally funded chargers are built by individual states, not the federal government, and that most will be built in the second half of the 2020s.

The total $7.5 billion in funding for the EV charging network consists of $5 billion distributed through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, or NEVI, and $2.5 billion distributed through the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program, or CFI. Federal NEVI funds, as determined by a formula, go annually to departments of transportation in all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, from 2022 to 2026.

Loren McDonald, an independent analyst monitoring the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure buildout, emphasized the importance of considering varying state readiness when evaluating progress. McDonald noted that while some states have significant experience in constructing EV charging networks, others are starting from scratch. For instance, Wisconsin had to enact new legislation to align with federal requirements, which naturally slowed its progress.

These differences highlight the challenges of implementing a nationwide program like the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) initiative. Building a comprehensive EV charging network involves accommodating diverse state-level regulations, expertise, and infrastructure capabilities. Such factors contribute to the phased and uneven progress across the country.

This context underscores that the rollout of EV charging infrastructure is not just about funding but also about overcoming logistical, regulatory, and operational hurdles, which vary widely between states.

McDonald’s company, EVAdoption, was acquired earlier this year by Paren. McDonald joined Paren as Chief Analyst. Paren is an exciting new startup, tackling the essential foundation of EV charging infrastructure with a data-driven approach, a pivotal move in accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles and cultivating a more sustainable future. Today, McDonald is one of our nation’s leading EV influencers.

“This is a federal program, but at the end of the day, it’s completely dependent on the states,” said McDonald. “And so the real criticism probably needs to be directed at the states that are moving slowly or how the program was structure. But I don’t know how else you would have done it.”

Loren McDonald suggested that the federal government could have expedited the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure by offering states more comprehensive guidance on managing their individual buildouts. Such guidance could have been particularly valuable for states with limited experience in constructing EV charging networks, helping them navigate federal requirements and streamline project implementation.

All 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia currently have access to nearly $2.4 billion from the first two rounds of National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funding, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). An additional $586 million has been made available in a third round of funding to 37 states. It’s important to note, however, that these figures represent money allocated for projects, not funds that have already been spent.

In total, the FHWA has announced more than $1.3 billion in awards through NEVI and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) program. Of this, $779 million in grants remains available for future projects. This allocation strategy ensures that resources are distributed as projects are planned and approved, aligning with the long-term goal of building a nationwide EV charging network.

The phased and carefully monitored release of funds reflects the program’s commitment to scalability, accountability, and equitable deployment across the diverse landscape of state and local requirements.

There are currently more than 203,000 publicly available EV charging ports across the U.S., with nearly 1,000 being turned on every week. This is more than double the number that were available in 2021. In addition to NEVI and CFI, funding sources include federal tax incentives and significant private investments.