Wisconsin Congressman Proposes Repealing Federal EV Charging Program

Wisconsin Public Radio reported on February 27, 2025, that Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Tony Wied, R-De Pere, introduced a bill to repeal the federal program giving states funding to build charging stations. It makes changes to the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure law. Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.

In February, the administration suspended the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program and suspended state plans approved under the Biden administration until new guidance is issued by the federal government.

The Biden administration awarded Wisconsin a sum of more than $78 million dollars to develop a network of electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers. Of that funding, the state could lose out on roughly $55 million it has not received.

In December of last year, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers made a landmark announcement: the first $23 million from a new state program would fund the creation of 53 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across Wisconsin. This initiative was a step forward in making the state’s infrastructure more sustainable, with the first federally funded charging stations going live at three Kwik Trip locations. The move was widely celebrated as a key component in preparing Wisconsin for a future that embraces cleaner energy and supports the growing electric vehicle market.

However, recent developments have cast a shadow over these ambitious plans. According to the governor’s office, the administration’s decision to suspend a crucial federal program could put up to $7.3 million in funding for 15 of those charging stations at risk. This decision threatens to derail a key aspect of the state’s efforts to expand EV infrastructure and meet the growing demand for electric vehicles.

Governor Evers wasted no time in responding to the news. In a statement, he strongly criticized the move, accusing Republicans of attempting to “gut federal funding” that Wisconsin relies on. Evers emphasized that his administration has been focused on investing in modern infrastructure to meet the needs of the 21st century—highlighting EV charging stations as a critical element in that vision.

“It’s ridiculous,” Evers stated. “Building the 21st-century infrastructure Wisconsinites need and deserve is a critical part of moving our state forward. Clearly, Republicans are dead set on doing the opposite and taking our state backward.”

Jeremiah Brockman, the president of the Wisconsin chapter of the Electric Vehicle Association, said ending the program would disproportionately affect vulnerable small businesses and rural communities. He said larger companies that received awards may be able to move forward with building the charging stations on their own.

“They might have a large enough customer base where there’s enough demand, but they’re going to have to foot the bill for this,” said Brockman. “But then there’s going to be smaller sort of mom-and-pop type shops that are just not going to be able, I don’t think, to foot the bill. They might just abandon the thing altogether.”

The Impact on States: Chaos and Confusion

The suspension of federal funding for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, specifically the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, has created a massive wave of uncertainty and disruption across state Departments of Transportation (DOTs). This freeze is leaving many states grappling with questions about the future of their EV charging projects, potentially derailing months or years of planning and investment.

For states, the freeze on the NEVI program is causing significant confusion. Many states are unsure whether they can move forward with projects that have already completed contracts, or whether they should continue solicitations for new projects. This creates a major roadblock for state agencies that had already committed to building and expanding their EV charging networks.

One of the most pressing concerns is how states will honor contracts with companies tasked with installing chargers if the federal funding is no longer available to support these commitments. With projects already underway, electricians, installers, and other workers have been counting on these initiatives for employment. Now, their livelihoods are at risk, and the future of these projects is unclear.

Depending on where states stand in the development process, the impact of the funding freeze varies. Some states, such as Arkansas, South Carolina, Vermont, and Michigan, have decided to put their entire NEVI program on hold. Others, including Minnesota, Kentucky, Texas, and Illinois, are moving forward with their EV charging projects despite the uncertainty. And as the situation evolves daily, the decisions made by states continue to shift.

Plug in America Tracks NEVI Projects

For those looking for a comprehensive overview of how states are reacting, Plug in America’s real-time NEVI tracker map provides the latest updates on state responses, tracking which projects are moving forward and which have been suspended.

Can Private Investment Fill the Gaps?

The question now is whether private investment can fill the void left by the NEVI program freeze. While private investment is essential for charging infrastructure, it alone cannot solve the gaps that NEVI was designed to address. Specifically, the NEVI program was crucial for supporting underserved and rural areas that may not attract private investors due to lower levels of EV adoption. Without this federal funding, these regions could face prolonged delays in gaining access to reliable EV charging stations.

That said, private investment in EV charging infrastructure is still ramping up in other sectors. Walmart is building out a network of charging stations at its retail locations, and the Ionna network, a collaboration between several major automakers, continues to move forward with its charging deployments. Smaller players like Revel are also receiving state grants to install charging stations in key areas, such as New York.

XLR8 America‘s unique approach to Charging as a Service (CaaS) allows clients to get valuable EV charging installed on site with no up-front costs, eliminating the need for federal funding. XLR8 America has an impressive goal to install 30,000 EV charging ports across the US by 2027.

“With NEVI funding stalled, the private sector has a crucial role to play in accelerating EV charging infrastructure deployment. XLR8 America is leading the charge with our innovative CaaS model, enabling businesses to embrace EV charging without the traditional financial burdens,” said said Founder Frank O’Connor, CEO of XLR8 America.

These efforts are vital, but they may not be enough to fill in the gaps that NEVI funding had promised to address.

EVinfo.net’s Take

Clearly, the administration’s decision to cut federal funding for EV charging was a big mistake. EVs are the most eco-friendly form of transportation, and also save drivers money, while providing all of us cleaner air. Cutting this funding hurts America’s economy and its automotive sector, while helping rival China, the clear leader of the global automotive industry.

Cutting NEVI funding puts America last, not first. EVinfo.net urges you to support valiant Democratic Party leaders such as Governor Tony Evers of Wisconsin, and Democrats around the nation, who are passionately opposing the horribly bad mistake of federal EV industry funding cuts. Volunteer, donate and VOTE for Democratic candidates at the federal, state, and local levels. Two house seats in Florida are up for grabs on April 1 2025.

Election day is approaching fast for a vital race in Wisconsin. Join EVinfo.net in supporting the heroic Judge Susan Crawford for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Election day is April 1, 2025, so we urge you to act quickly to do all you can to support Judge Crawford and Florida Democrats.