Applications open for $2.5bn US fund for more EV charging infrastructure

A Chevy Bolt EV electric car is seen charging at a Volta Charging Station in a parking lot in Tigard, Oregon. (Image: Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

The US government has opened the first round of a US$2.5 billion programme to build more infrastructure for electric vehicle (EV) and charging and alternative fuelling.

The Biden-Harris administration has set a goal of building a national network of 500,000 public EV charging stations and reducing national greenhouse gas emissions by 50%-52% by 2030.

The US Department of Transportation’s new Charging and Fuelling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Programme was established as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The five-year programme sees $1.25 billion deployed to a community programme to deploy EV charging infrastructure and hydrogen, propane or natural gas fuelling in communities.

Meanwhile a separate $1.25 billion Corridor Programme provides the same infrastructure along designated ‘alternative fuel corridors’.

It builds on a $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Programme. The NEVI Programme sends money to states, Puerto Rico and DC to build EV charging infrastructure along Interstates, US routes and state highways. By contrast, the CFI Discretionary Grant Program awards competitive grants to fill gaps in the national charging and alternative-fuelling network and build out charging in communities.

The first round of CFI funding makes $700 million available for applicants including cities, counties, local governments and tribes.

US transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg said: “By helping bring EV charging to communities across the country, this administration is modernising our infrastructure and creating good jobs in the process.

“With today’s announcement , we are taking another big step forward in creating an EV future that is convenient, reliable and made in America.”