Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Congressional research reportAug 28, 2023
Ask Donna
What actually matters in this document.
Text
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle
Charging Infrastructure
August 28, 2023
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
R47675
SUMMARY
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle
Charging Infrastructure
On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA,
P.L. 117-58). This broad infrastructure law addresses a range of issues. To expand the national
network of electric vehicle charging stations, the IIJA established two new grant programs ($7.5
billion combined) within the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), part of the U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT).
R47675
August 28, 2023
Melissa N. Diaz
Analyst in Energy Policy
Corrie E. Clark
Specialist in Energy Policy
U.S. electric vehicle sales doubled between 2020 and 2021 and account for about 4% of all
vehicles sold. Infrastructure to charge those vehicles exists along a range, from 120 volt plugs in
many home garages to more expensive faster chargers with more than 400 volts. Market surveys have shown that consumers
are concerned about the lack of an extensive charging network across the country, as well as the related concerns that some
electric vehicles have a limited range before needing to be recharged. The IIJA grant programs were designed to address
those concerns along major U.S. highways. In addition, the IIJA directs FHWA to develop standards for charging
infrastructure funded by certain federally programs so charging is secure, provides a range of payment options, and meets
certain installation requirements.
The federal government has in the past provided limited financial support for installation of electric vehicle charging stations,
such as through the alternative fuel infrastructure tax credit—modified by the law commonly referred to as the Inflation
Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA, P.L. 117-169)—and the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Improvement program. With just
over 50,000 charging stations in October 2022—and more than 130,000 ports for charging—electric vehicle charging
capacity is far below one estimate that 2.4 million charging stations that may be necessary in 2030 to sustain an electric
vehicle fleet of 26 million vehicles (an estimate from one group of what may be needed to support California and other
states’ zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) goals).
The two $7.5 billion grant programs established by IIJA are:
•
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, which is to provide $5 billion in
grants, with $1 billion distributed by FHWA in each of FY2022-FY2026. All states, the District of
Columbia, and Puerto Rico are eligible, and funds must be used for charging along the national highway
system and primarily along highways already designated as alternative fuel corridors. Under existing
FHWA guidelines, new charging stations should be spaced a maximum of 50 miles apart. A new FHWA
rule sets additional standards and requirements. In September 2022, all state plans were approved, opening
access to FY2022 and FY2023 NEVI funding.
•
The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) grant program, which is to provide $2.5 billion over five
years to strategically deploy alternative fuel infrastructure for vehicles powered by electricity and other
fuels. Half of the new funding is to be used along FHWA corridors earmarked for those fuels. The other
half is to be applied to uses in public building parking lots and in similar publicly-accessible locations. CFI
grants differ from NEVI in two ways: (a) grants are to be subject to a competitive process, unlike the
formula-based NEVI; and (b) priority are to be given to applicants in rural areas, disadvantaged
communities, and areas with high rates of multi-unit housing.
In addition to the two FHWA grant programs, IIJA also establishes a $5 billion Clean School Bus Program within the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for FY2022-FY2026 that is to provide grants and rebates for the replacement of
existing school buses with alternative fueled buses (electricity, natural gas, hydrogen, or biofuels) and includes funding for
refueling or recharging infrastructure. This program is in addition to programs administered by the Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) that can provide grants for electric buses such as the Bus and Bus Facilities Program and the Low and
No Emission Vehicle Program.
Congressional Research Service
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Electric Vehicle Charging Fundamentals......................................................................................... 2
Electric Vehicle Market Trends ................................................................................................. 3
Electric Vehicle Charging Technologies.................................................................................... 4
Charging Station Inventory ....................................................................................................... 6
Disadvantaged Community Access to Charging Stations ......................................................... 7
Electricity Demand and Sale for Resale or Service ................................................................ 10
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ......................................................................................... 14
Joint Office of Energy and Transportation .............................................................................. 14
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program ........................................ 15
Grants for Charging and Fueling Infrastructure ...................................................................... 18
Electric Vehicle Working Group ............................................................................................. 18
State Energy Program (SEP) ................................................................................................... 18
Data Collection on Electric Vehicle Integration with the Electricity Grids ............................ 19
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices Updates ............................................................ 19
Measures to Promote Electrification of the Transportation Sector ......................................... 19
Clean School Bus Program ..................................................................................................... 20
Low or No Emission Vehicle Program .................................................................................... 20
Other Federal Programs................................................................................................................. 21
Clean Cities Program .............................................................................................................. 21
Federal Highway Funding ....................................................................................................... 21
Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit .............................................................................. 22
Electrify America .................................................................................................................... 22
Figures
Figure 1. Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Equipment by Charging Level ...................................... 5
Figure 2. Charging Equipment Terminology ................................................................................... 6
Figure 3. Electric Vehicle Alternative Fuel Corridors ................................................................... 17
Tables
Table 1. Characteristics of Refueling Components ......................................................................... 2
Table 2. Sales of Electricity-Using Light Duty Vehicles ................................................................. 3
Table 3. U.S. Electric Vehicle Charging Station Inventory ............................................................. 7
Table 4. Charging Infrastructure in Disadvantaged Communities ................................................ 10
Table A-1. National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program ............................ 23
Table B-1. EV Charging Authorizations and Appropriations ........................................................ 24
Congressional Research Service
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Appendixes
Appendix A. Apportionment of FY2022 Highway Infrastructure Program Funds for
Electric Vehicle Charging ........................................................................................................... 23
Appendix B. Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Funding in IIJA ..................................................... 24
Contacts
Author Information........................................................................................................................ 25
Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................... 25
Congressional Research Service
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Introduction
In the United States, the transportation sector accounts for 27% of greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions, the largest of any sector.1 To address concerns about the impact of GHG emissions on
climate change, governments in major industrial countries have increasingly adopted motor
vehicle GHG emission requirements in addition to requirements on the emission of other air
pollutants. Options to meet these requirements include improvements to internal combustion
engine vehicles and expansion of the manufacture and use of alternative fuel vehicles powered by
electricity or hydrogen.
Electric vehicles (EVs), including plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles, are increasingly
being produced by automakers as part of their fleet of vehicles to meet federal emission
requirements and to address climate change concerns. Consumers have shown a growing interest
in EVs: between 2020 and 2021, sales of light-duty plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles
doubled, accounting for 4.2% of new U.S. vehicle sales in 2021.2 One factor that impedes the sale
of EVs—in addition to range limitations, the higher cost of EVs, and the high cost of battery
system replacement at the end of their lifecycle—is the limited network of charging stations
throughout the United States.
Data from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) indicate
that the number of public and private EV charging stations in the United States is approximately
50,000, with more than 130,000 charging ports to charge vehicles.3 These estimates do not
include access to residential charging locations such as a single-family home with a garage or
carport where an EV can be charged overnight. For comparison, in 2022, 116,641 convenience
stores across the country reportedly sold motor fuels.4
This report will use terminology that aligns with AFDC terminology. The three basic components
of EV charging, or electric refueling, are the refueling site, the hardware dispensing electric
charge, and the connector that plugs into the vehicle from the hardware (Table 1); these are not
unlike the components of gasoline refueling for internal combustion engine vehicles.
1 Transportation sources include emissions from two- and three-wheelers, light duty vehicles, buses and minibuses,
heavy trucks, shipping, and aviation. U.S. emissions from electric power accounted for the second largest portion
(24.8%); emissions from industry accounted for the third largest portion (23.8%) of total U.S. greenhouse gas
emissions in 2020. The remaining 24.2% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were contributed by the agriculture,
commercial, and residential sectors, plus emissions from U.S. territories. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks, 1990-2020, EPA 430-P-22-003, April 14, 2022, p. ES-21,
https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/draft-inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks-1990-2020.
2 Argonne National Laboratory, Light Duty Electric Drive Vehicles—Monthly Sales Updates, accessed March 21, 2022,
https://www.anl.gov/es/light-duty-electric-drive-vehicles-monthly-sales-updates. Argonne provided CRS with annual
data for 2020 and 2021 sales.
3 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), “Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Locations,” interactive tool, data downloaded March 7, 2022, https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_locations.html#/
find/nearest?fuel=ELEC. Includes public and private access electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and all charging
levels, connector types, and charging networks.
4 According to NACS, a trade association for convenience and fuel retail stores, “convenience stores sell an estimated
80% of fuel purchased in the United States.” NACS, “U.S. Convenience Store Count,” February 2022,
https://www.nacsmagazine.com/issues/february-2022/us-convenience-store-count.
Congressional Research Service
1
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Table 1. Characteristics of Refueling Components
Gasoline Refueling
Electric Refueling
Refueling Site
Gas station
Charging station
Dispensing Hardware
Fuel pump
Charging port
Filler Hardware for Fuel Receptacle
Fuel nozzle
Charging connector
Source: CRS.
While President Biden has called for funding a $15 billion EV charging program that could install
as many as 500,000 EV charging ports,5 the $7.5 billion provided in the Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act (IIJA, P.L. 117-58), the first major federal program of its kind, will most likely fund
a smaller number of charging ports without further public and private investments. While the
federal government has in the past promoted investments in building EV charging infrastructure,
IIJA centralizes and significantly expands federal programs to build a larger national charging
network. One estimate is that if U.S. policies seek to support a fleet of 26 million EVs by 2030,
then 2.4 million public and workplace charging ports would need to be in place by 2030.6
These new investments from the IIJA, and other recent legislation such as P.L. 117-169
(commonly referred to as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 or IRA), also include language in
support of the equitable distribution of new charging infrastructure in rural areas and in
underserved or disadvantaged communities. This language reflects policies outlined in the Biden
Administration’s Executive Order 14008 (Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad)7 and
the Office of Management and Budget’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to direct 40% of certain
federal investments to disadvantaged or Justice40 communities.8
This report summarizes existing federal EV charging infrastructure programs and discusses the
elements in the IIJA that are to fund further expansion of that infrastructure.
Electric Vehicle Charging Fundamentals
Charging an EV involves a number of factors, such as the type of vehicle, the charging level,
access, equipment compatibility, and charging patterns. Understanding these factors can help
inform how and where to deploy charging infrastructure, differentiating between slower charging
5 The White House, “FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Advances Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure,” press
release, April 22, 2021, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/22/fact-sheet-bidenadministration-advances-electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure/. The statement makes reference to “chargers,” which
are also referred to as “ports.”
6 In developing its analysis and forecast, International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) researchers made a
number of assumptions. They assumed an increasing number of states would align with California’s Zero Emission
Vehicle (ZEV) regulation and, in those states, ZEVs would be 100% of sales in those states by 2035. ICCT also
assumes the EV share of new light duty vehicle sales in states with ZEV regulations will reach 18% by 2025 and 61%
by 2030. They utilized sales projections from U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA’s) Annual Energy
Outlook. Gordon Bauer, Chih-Wei Hsu, and Mike Nicholas, et al., Charging Up America: Assessing the Growing Need
for U.S. Charging Infrastructure Through 2030, ICCT, July 2021, p. i, and pp. 10-11, https://theicct.org/wp-content/
uploads/2021/12/charging-up-america-jul2021.pdf.
7 The White House, “Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,” press release, January 27,
2021, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-theclimate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/.
8 Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Interim Implementation Guidance for the Justice40 Initiative, M-21-28,
July 20, 2021, https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/M-21-28.pdf.
Congressional Research Service
2
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
where overnight charging is possible and faster charging adjacent to interstates and other primary
highways where quicker charging may be desired.
Electric Vehicle Market Trends
Growth of the EV market will depend in part on the growth of the EV charging network; as more
consumers see that there are more charging stations, they may decide that an EV can serve their
vehicle needs as well as or better than a vehicle with an internal combustion engine. Several
automakers have indicated they plan to end their worldwide sale of gasoline- and diesel-powered
light duty vehicles by 2040.9 Automakers are expanding their range of vehicle models that utilize
electricity as a power source. In some vehicles, the electricity supplements a standard internal
combustion engine, and in others, the vehicles operate entirely on electricity. The three major
types of light vehicle EV technologies10 are:
•
•
•
hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), of which there are more than 250 models, such
as the Toyota Prius. HEVs have both an internal combustion engine and a battery
that is recharged through regenerative braking and from power generated by the
engine; they do not use an external source of electricity;
plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), of which there are nearly 100 models,
such as the Ford Escape. PHEVs operate on both electricity and gasoline, with
both an internal combustion engine and a battery that is recharged from external
sources of electricity; and
battery electric vehicles (BEVs), of which there are more than 125 models, such
as the Tesla 3. BEVs run only on electricity and must be recharged from an
external source.11
Of the major types of light-duty vehicle EV technologies, only PHEVs and BEVs utilize EV
charging infrastructure. Table 2 summarizes annual sales in all three categories of vehicles. Sales
in all three categories of vehicles have increased from 2020 to 2021.
Table 2. Sales of Electricity-Using Light Duty Vehicles
Number of Vehicles Sold
Plug-in Hybrid
Electric
Battery
Electric
Total Light
Duty
Vehicles
PHEV and BEV
Sales as Percent of
All Light Duty
Vehicles
Year
Hybrid Electric
2020
454,890
69,049
238,540
14,472,032
2.1%
2021
798,105
164,824
466,328
14,959,386
4.2%
Source: Argonne National Laboratory, Light Duty Electric Drive Vehicles—Monthly Sales Updates, accessed March
21, 2022, https://www.anl.gov/es/light-duty-electric-drive-vehicles-monthly-sales-updates.
Notes: Light duty vehicles include passenger cars, sports utility vehicles, and pickup trucks.
9 Caleb Miller, “Six Major Automakers Agree to End Gas Car Sales Globally by 2040,” Car and Driver, November 10,
2021, https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a38213848/automakers-pledge-end-gas-sales-2040/.
10 In addition to the three types of EV technologies identified (hybrid electric vehicle, plug-in electric vehicle, and
battery electric vehicle), another type is fuel cell electric vehicle where energy stored as a fuel (e.g., hydrogen) is
converted to electricity by a fuel cell. For additional information, see CRS Report R46231, Electric Vehicles: A Primer
on Technology and Selected Policy Issues, by Melissa N. Diaz.
11 Data on available vehicle models in each category from AFDC, “Availability of Hybrid and Plug-In Electric
Vehicles,” accessed March 22, 2022, https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric_availability.html.
Congressional Research Service
3
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Electric Vehicle Charging Technologies
Electric vehicle charging infrastructure is typically categorized into three charging levels and
three ownership types. Charging levels are differentiated by the voltage of the electrical source,
with lower voltages corresponding to lower power outputs and slower rates of charge (see Figure
1). Level 1 charging equipment supplies 120 volts alternating current (AC) electricity; this
voltage is supplied by standard U.S. electrical outlets.12 Level 2 charging equipment supplies 240
volts AC electricity; this voltage is supplied by high-voltage outlets, such as those for electric
ranges and other home appliances. Direct current fast charging (DC Fast) generally refers to any
direct current (DC) charging equipment, typically supplying 480 volts DC electricity. This high
voltage facilitates electricity rates in excess of 50 kW and is available only for non-residential
installation. National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Standards and Requirements require
Level 2 or DC Fast for projects funded by NEVI or certain other federal programs.13 The
Standards and Requirements also require each DC Fast port to have an SAE J1772 Combined
Charging System connector (CCS Type 1; combines the J1772 connector with an adapter that
adds two bottom pins). The rule also allows the installation of additional non-proprietary
connectors to accommodate a larger variety of vehicles, including those that use CHAdeMO or
North American Charging Standard (NACS) connectors.14
12 Alternating current (AC) is electrical current that reverses direction regularly. The majority of electricity in the
United States is generated and distributed in AC at a frequency of 60 Hertz (i.e., cycles per second). Direct current
(DC) is electrical current that flows constantly in a single direction. Batteries and many distributed generation systems
generate electricity in DC, and many EVs, electronic devices, and appliances operate in DC.
13 National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Standards and Requirements, 23 C.F.R. 680 (2023).
14 CHAdeMO is an abbreviation of “charge de move,” derived from a Japanese phrase meaning “let’s have a cup of
tea” while charging (“o cha demo ikaga desuka”); CHAdeMO, “FAQ,” accessed April 4, 2023,
https://www.chademo.com/faq. The Nissan Leaf is one of the few vehicles available in the United States that uses
CHAdeMO; Kelley Blue Book, “Can I Use Any Charger System with My EV?” accessed April 4, 2023,
https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/what-charger-for-ev/. NACS refers to Tesla port and connector designs, formerly
proprietary designs used only by Tesla’s Supercharger network; Tesla, “Opening the North American Charging
Standard,” November 11, 2022, https://www.tesla.com/blog/opening-north-american-charging-standard.
Congressional Research Service
4
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Figure 1. Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Equipment by Charging Level
Source: CRS based on data from U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC),
“Developing Infrastructure to Charge Plug-In Electric Vehicles,” accessed April 15, 2022, https://afdc.energy.gov/
fuels/electricity_infrastructure.html#level1; and Michael Nicholas, Dale Hall, and Nic Lutsey, Quantifying the
Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Gap Across U.S. Markets, International Council on Clean Transportation,
January 2019, p. 1, https://theicct.org/publication/quantifying-the-electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure-gapacross-u-s-markets/. Cost estimates reflect cost ranges presented across sources.
Notes: Typical characteristics for electric vehicle (EV) charging in the United States. The standard SAE J1772 is
available for all three levels; the J1772 Combined Charging System (CCS) has an adaptor that adds two bottom
pins for Direct Current Fast charging (DC Fast). CHAdeMO is used internationally; in the United States, the
Nissan Leaf is one of the few vehicles that uses CHAdeMO. The North American Charging Standard (NACS)
refers to formerly proprietary designs used only by Tesla’s Supercharger network. Equipment costs do not
reflect potential savings from incentives, tax credits, or rebates from government, public, or private entities.
Charging sites have different access depending on ownership: residential, private, or public.
Residentially-owned charging sites are privately accessed (e.g., garage in a single family home)
and include portable Level 1 charging ports (i.e., cordset) used to charge EVs via standard outlets,
and Level 2 ports installed in privately-owned residences. Residential charging sites are typically
not reported by AFDC, though charging sites at multi-family residences may be reported as
private charging stations.
Private and public charging stations typically have stationary charging ports (one or more)
installed in a wall mount or pedestal, though some charging locations offer a designated outlet for
use with a portable Level 1 charging port. Each stationary port may have more than one
connector for compatibility with different vehicles, though each port can charge only one EV at a
Congressional Research Service
5
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
time. Private charging stations are limited for use by certain customers or vehicles, such as fleets,
transit buses, and/or medium- and heavy-duty vehicles; included are those located at workplaces,
government facilities, and other locations with limited or restricted access. Public charging
stations are located in areas accessible to any member of the public. For NEVI- and certain other
federally-funded charging infrastructure projects, NEVI Standards and Requirements address
other characteristics that may restrict access, such as disallowing payment methods that require
membership.15
Figure 2. Charging Equipment Terminology
Source: CRS based on information from U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Alternative Fuels Data Center
(AFDC), “Developing Infrastructure to Charge Plug-In Electric Vehicles,” accessed April 15, 2022,
https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_infrastructure.html.
Notes: Non-exhaustive summary of various terms used in reference to electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment.
Individual stations have different configurations of charging equipment. Each port can charge one EV at a time,
though one port may offer more than one connector (e.g., for compatibility with different vehicles). The total
number of vehicles that can charge simultaneously is determined by the number of ports, not the number of
connectors.
Figure 2 summarizes common terminology used to describe the basic elements of EV charging
infrastructure.16 “Charger” is among the most common terms used to describe charging
infrastructure and its many components from the portable and stationary charging ports to the
wall mounts and pedestals to the connectors that are plugged into EVs.
Charging Station Inventory
According to October 2022 AFDC data, the number of public and private charging stations in the
United States exceeds 50,000 (Table 3); as of October 2022, 93% of charging stations were
public and 7% were private. Charging ports at a given charging station may be of different
charging levels. Of the more than 134,000 reported individual charging ports, the majority were
15 NEVI Standards and Requirements, 23 C.F.R. 680 (2023).
16 The electric vehicle charging industry also uses another term—electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE)—to refer
to the individual outlets and corresponding technology used to charge a single EV at an EV charging station; AFDC,
“Developing Infrastructure to Charge Plug-In Electric Vehicles,” accessed April 15, 2022, https://afdc.energy.gov/
fuels/electricity_infrastructure.html.
Congressional Research Service
6
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Level 2 ports (78%). AFDC provides information and collects data on EVs and charging stations,
as well as other alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure. Data from AFDC are gathered and
verified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and updated periodically.17
Stations that are no longer providing charging services are removed from the database as they are
identified.
Table 3. U.S. Electric Vehicle Charging Station Inventory
As of October 3, 2022
Public
Private
Total
Charging Stations
46,995
3,669
50,664
Charging Ports
120,409
14,520
134,929
Level 1 Ports
869
2,129
2,998
Level 2 Ports
93,790
12,083
105,873
DC Fast Ports
25,750
308
26,058
Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), “Alternative Fuel Stations,”
dataset, accessed October 3, 2022, https://afdc.energy.gov/data_download.
Notes: Residential charging sites are generally not counted in the DOE tabulation, with the exception of some
multi-family residential sites. Public charging stations are accessible to any customer, while private charging
stations are limited for use by certain customers or certain vehicles (e.g., at a workplace, for public transit
vehicles). A charging station may have one or more charging ports. Charging levels are generally differentiated by
voltage of the electrical source.
Compared to 2015 data from NREL, public and private charging ports increased more than
threefold and increased by 20% between 2020 and 2021.18 An NREL analysis of charging station
location data demonstrated that public charging port growth varied regionally, ranging from 3.3%
in the Southeast to 7.6% in the Mid-Atlantic between 2019 and 2021.19
Disadvantaged Community Access to Charging Stations
As EV sales and the number of charging stations continue to increase, some stakeholders have
raised concerns about the distribution of charging stations and geographic and demographic
access to charging.20 In a February 2022 (updated and superseded in June 2023) memorandum on
EV charging infrastructure, the Department of Transportation (DOT) noted that “many of the
burdens from the transportation and energy systems have been historically and disproportionately
borne by disadvantaged communities” and committed to emphasizing equity considerations at the
According to DOE, “The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) obtains information about new stations
from trade media, Clean Cities coordinators, the Submit New Station form on the Station Locator website, and through
collaborating with infrastructure equipment and fuel providers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and industry
groups.” See AFDC, “About the Alternative Fueling Station Data,” accessed February 22, 2022,
https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_locations.html#/find/nearest.
18 There were 34,151 charging ports in 2015; NREL, “Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Trends, updated January
2022, https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_infrastructure_trends.html.
19 NREL used the Clean Cities Coalition Network regions for this analysis. NREL, Electric Vehicle Charging
Infrastructure Trends from the Alternative Fueling Station Locator: Fourth Quarter 2021, Figure 12,
https://afdc.energy.gov/files/u/publication/electric_vehicle_charging_infrastructure_trends_fourth_quarter_2021.pdf.
20 For example, in the 117th Congress, a hearing examined EV infrastructure distribution issues in rural areas. U.S.
Congress, House Committee on Agriculture, Implications of Electric Vehicle Investments for Agriculture and Rural
America, 117th Cong., 2nd sess., January 12, 2022.
17
Congressional Research Service
7
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
start for the IIJA charging station programs.21 The framework for identifying disadvantaged
communities comes from Justice40, which established a goal for 40% of overall benefits from
certain federal investments to “flow to disadvantaged communities,” including investments made
by programs in clean transportation and clean transit.22 DOT’s interim definition identified
Justice40 communities as tribal land, territories, and census tracts ranking in the top 50% in four
or more transportation disadvantage categories: transportation access disadvantage, health
disadvantage, environmental disadvantage, economic disadvantage, climate change resilience
disadvantage, and equity disadvantage based on linguistic isolation.23 The IIJA charging
infrastructure programs are covered by Justice40.24
In January of 2023, agencies were directed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to
utilize the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), which was released out of beta
in October 2022.25 Agencies are not expected to switch to CEJST for existing programs with open
funding announcements, but instead to incorporate CEJST for new funding announcements.26
CEJST uses more than 30 indicators organized into 8 categories: climate change, energy, health,
housing, legacy pollution, transportation, water and wastewater, and workforce development.27 A
census tract is identified as disadvantaged if it is at or above the threshold for one or more
indicators in any category; and at or above the threshold for the associated socioeconomic
indicator for that category. For the transportation indicators (diesel particulate matter,
transportation barriers, and traffic proximity and volume) and most other indicators, the threshold
is the 90th percentile of census tracts. For most categories, including transportation, the
socioeconomic indicator is low income, defined as at or below 200% of the federal poverty level,
with a threshold of 65th percentile of census tracts. CEJST also categorizes census tracts within
lands of federally recognized tribes as disadvantaged.
Prior to these programs, some studies have sought to determine where public charging
infrastructure was disproportionately less accessible to certain geographic areas or demographic
groups. One study evaluated the extent to which public EV charging stations in California were
located in areas accessible to below-median income households.28 By combining public charging
station location data with U.S. Census Bureau data from the American Community Survey, the
21 DOT, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure [NEVI] Formula Program
Guidance (Update), June 2, 2023, p. 16, https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/alternative_fuel_corridors/
nominations/90d_nevi_formula_program_guidance.pdf.
22 Executive Order (E.O.) 14008, 86 Federal Register 7619 (January 27, 2021).
23 DOT, “Transportation Disadvantaged Census Tracts (Historically Disadvantaged Communities) Interim Definition
Methodology,” updated April 27, 2023, https://www.transportation.gov/priorities/equity/justice40/transportationdisadvantaged-census-tracts-historically-disadvantaged. DOT calculated the percentile value for each census tract for
22 indicators, which were grouped into the six Transportation Disadvantage categories. DOT then calculated the
average percentile for each tract for each of the six categories. A tract is considered disadvantaged for any category
where it is in the 50th percentile or higher, except for resilience to climate change where the 75 th percentile is
disadvantaged. Census tracts that are disadvantaged in four or more categories are identified as transportation
disadvantaged.
24 DOT, “Covered Programs,” updated April 4, 2023, https://www.transportation.gov/priorities/equity/justice40/
covered-programs.
25 OMB, Addendum to the Interim Implementation Guidance for the Justice40 Initiative, M-21-28, on Using the
Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), M-23-09, January 27, 2023, https://www.whitehouse.gov/wpcontent/uploads/2023/01/M-23-09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf.
26 OMB, Addendum. The memorandum allows for “certain special circumstances” under which an agency may issue a
limited exception to the use of CEJST.
27 CEJST, “Methodology,” released November 22, 2022, https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/methodology.
28 Chih-Wei Hsu and Kevin Fingerman, “Public Electric Vehicle Charger Access Disparities Across Race and Income
in California,” Transport Policy, vol. 100 (2021), pp. 59-67.
Congressional Research Service
8
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
study found that census block groups with below-median household incomes had less access to
public charging than areas with higher incomes.29 Access to public charging was highest directly
next to freeways or highways, although this access was not equally distributed across
socioeconomic groups. Compared to other ethnic majority groupings and controlling for highway
distance, Black and Hispanic majority census block groups had the lowest access to public
charging.
Another study analyzed access to public EV charging stations across the 50 most populous U.S.
cities, focusing on the challenges faced by existing and potential EV drivers lacking dedicated
off-street parking.30 The study modeled walking zones around each charging station of onequarter mile or five-minute walk, a distance the study described as a “realistic maximum distance
a driver would regularly walk to access charging.”31 The study found that 9.7% of residents in
these cities lived within walking zones, though actual access varied based on population density
and concentration of charging infrastructure. For example, while 18.5% of New York City
residents lived within walking zones, a large number of these residents had access to the same
few charging stations. Racial disparities were found to affect Black and Hispanic populations
overall (compared to Asian, White, and other/unknown populations), though not consistently
from city to city. In cities like Atlanta, Chicago, and Washington, DC, the share of residents
within walking zones that were Black was more than 20% lower than the rest of the city.32
Median household income was higher within walking zones ($79,000) compared to outside of
walking zones ($63,000); these values may be influenced by a small number of highly populous
cities where “charging infrastructure strongly favors more affluent households.”33
To illustrate the current state of deployment of charging infrastructure in disadvantaged
communities, CRS used geospatial data from DOT that identifies disadvantaged communities at
the census tract level to map EV charging station location data from AFDC, summarized in Table
4.34 Disadvantaged census tracts made up 30% of all census tracts. The share of public charging
stations and public ports in disadvantaged tracts was 28%. Level 2 ports made up the majority
(76%) of public charging ports in disadvantaged communities. The table focuses on public
charging stations and ports since these make up the largest share of charging, and public charging
infrastructure is the target of NEVI and other federal programs established in the 117th Congress.
29 Ibid., p. 62.
30 Mobilyze.ai, Access to Electric Vehicle Charging in the United States, August 2021.
31 Ibid., p. 6. This distance is meant to capture “managing for infrastructure cost and utilization” by the driver.
32 Ibid., p. 12.
33 Ibid., p. 14.
34 AFDC, “Alternative Fuel Stations,” dataset, accessed October 3, 2022, https://afdc.energy.gov/data_download. DOT,
Transportation Disadvantaged Census Tracts, shapefile, posted May 5, 2022, https://www.transportation.gov/equityJustice40; census tracts using the interim definition can also be viewed online at https://usdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/
dashboards/d6f90dfcc8b44525b04c7ce748a3674a.
Congressional Research Service
9
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Table 4. Charging Infrastructure in Disadvantaged Communities
Total number of census tracts considered 72,842
Tracts, Population,
and Infrastructure in
Disadvantaged Areas
Percentage of Total
in Disadvantaged
Areas
21,973
30%
Population (322,903,030 total)
99,515,431
31%
Charging Stations (50,664 total)
14,045
28%
Private Charging Stations
1,071
29%
Public Charging Stations
12,974
28%
Public Charging Ports
33,600
28%
Public Level 1 Ports
285
33%
Public Level 2 Ports
25,521
27%
Public DC Fast Ports
7,794
30%
Census Tracts (72,842 total)
Source: CRS analysis. Department of Energy (DOE), Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), “Alternative Fuel
Stations,” dataset, accessed October 3, 2022, https://afdc.energy.gov/data_download. Department of
Transportation (DOT), Transportation Disadvantaged Census Tracts, shapefile, posted May 5, 2022,
https://www.transportation.gov/equity-Justice40.
Notes: Disadvantaged census tracts were identified from DOT analysis. Residential charging sites are generally
not counted in the DOE tabulation, with the exception of some multi-family residential sites. Public charging
stations are accessible to any customer, while private charging stations are limited for use by certain customers
or certain vehicles (e.g., at a workplace, for public transit vehicles). A charging station may have one or more
charging ports. Charging levels are generally differentiated by voltage of the electrical source.
In the aggregate, 28% of the total charging stations are located in disadvantaged areas which
represent 30% of all census tracts containing 31% of the U.S. population. This aggregate snapshot
might appear to indicate equal distribution of public charging infrastructure; however, a
difference of one percentage point may impact hundreds of census tracts and millions of people.
Also, the physical distribution of charging stations may not meet local needs or high deployment
in certain areas may be compensating for low deployment in other areas. Deployment efforts can
be used to help ensure reliable and broad access to charging for all drivers. In addition, with the
official launch of CEJST, which applies to DOT programs that were not already active and
utilizing the DOT interim definition, the observed distribution of charging infrastructure may
change due to differences in indicators. At a high level, CEJST identified more census tracts as
disadvantaged (27,248 census tracts) which may include more or less charging infrastructure than
when utilizing the DOT interim definition for disadvantaged communities.35
Electricity Demand and Sale for Resale or Service
The growth in EV use, and thus electricity demand for EVs, will likely depend on several factors,
including state and federal regulations affecting the sale of electricity, different costs of electricity
in each state, pricing structures for EV charging stations, and individual vehicle specifications.
In the United States, the sale of electricity is governed by many different federal, state, and local
regulations. When it comes to the sale of electricity for the purpose of charging EVs, the states
generally have regulatory jurisdiction over retail electricity transactions, though federal and
35 CEJST, “Downloads,” Communities List Data [spreadsheet], released November 22, 2022,
https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/downloads.
Congressional Research Service
10
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
municipal authorities may also play a role. Jurisdiction over the sale of electricity to or from an
EV charging station hinges upon its definition as either a retail transaction or a sale for resale
(i.e., wholesale). States typically regulate retail electricity transactions, while the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC) has jurisdiction over the transmission and wholesale sales of
electricity in interstate commerce.36 To date, FERC has not intervened in state decisions regarding
the classification and regulation of EV charging infrastructure.37 In the absence of clear or
comprehensive and consistent state policies, some cities and counties have become the de facto
regulators of EV charging stations within their regions. State approaches to regulation vary
considerably, and according to the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
(NARUC), the approaches focus on two questions:
1.
Charging station ownership: Whether regulated utilities should be permitted to own
charging stations or provide make-ready investments in front of and behind the meter
and earn a rate of return on these investments.
2.
Rate design: Whether there should be a role for load management via EV rate design
or demand response programs. By influencing charging times and lowering overall
load factors from EVs, rate design and demand response can manage the grid
impacts—positive or negative—that EVs may have on overall system load.38
Because of the varied approaches to charging station ownership and rate design, payback periods
and return on investments for EV charging stations vary. In addition, the price of electricity varies
regionally, and different rates are allocated to residential and commercial customers. The 2021
U.S. average was 11.10 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), with an average price of 13.66 cents per
kWh for the residential sector, 11.22 cents per kWh for commercial, 7.18 cents per kWh for
industrial, and 10.20 cents per kWh for transportation.39 According to the U.S. Energy
Information Administration (EIA), electricity price projections for a reference case over the next
five to ten years may potentially remain relatively stable given projected growth in the percentage
of renewable electricity in the generation mix.40 Decisions by EV drivers regarding where to
36 For more information on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC’s) role in transmission and wholesale
sales of electricity, see CRS In Focus IF11411, The Legal Framework of the Federal Power Act, by Adam Vann, and
CRS Report R44783, The Federal Power Act (FPA) and Electricity Markets, by Richard J. Campbell.
37 In September 2020, FERC approved tariff revision proposals by the California Independent System Operator
(CAISO) that were designed to enhance demand response, which is a reduction or shift in power consumption by a
customer during peak energy demand periods or when grid reliability may be at risk. The tariff proposals pertained to
electric vehicle charging stations and energy storage. See CAISO Corporation, 172 F.E.R.C. ¶ 61,298 at P 1 (2020).
38 Charles Harper, Gregory McAndrews, and Danielle Sass Byrnett, Electric Vehicles: Key Trends, Issues, and
Considerations for State Regulators, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), October
2019, p. 11.
39 According to EIA, values for 2021 are final. While these are national averages, local electricity prices may vary. For
example, in 2021 Hawaii had the highest electricity prices of any state with an all-sector average of 30.31 cents per
kilowatt (kW) while Idaho had one of the lowest all-sector average price of 8.17 cents per kW. According to EIA, the
transportation sector is defined as “electrified rail, primarily urban transit, light rail, automated guideway, and other rail
systems whose primary propulsive energy source is electricity.” EIA, Electric Power Monthly, “Table 5.3: Average
Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers,” accessed March 14, 2023, https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/
epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_03; EIA, Electric Power Annual, “Table 2.10: Average Price of Electricity to
Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State,” accessed March 14, 2023, https://www.eia.gov/electricity/annual/
html/epa_02_10.html; EIA, Electric Power Annual, “Technical Notes,” November 2022, p. 9, https://www.eia.gov/
electricity/annual/pdf/tech_notes.pdf.
40 Projections provide estimates of future energy system conditions based upon stated assumptions. During the same
period, EIA projects growth in the percentage of renewable electricity generation from 21% of the U.S. electricity
generation mix in 2020 to 30% of the mix in 2025 to 35% of the mix in 2030. EIA, Annual Energy Outlook 2021 (AEO
2021), “Table 8: Electricity Supply, Disposition, Prices, and Emissions,” https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo/data/
browser (the displayed text for this hyperlink has been shortened).
Congressional Research Service
11
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
charge their vehicles may vary according to the price of electricity at home versus elsewhere.41
Furthermore, some EV charging stations do not charge for electricity.
Some EV charging station users may encounter demand charges, or additional charges or higher
rates added to a customer’s electricity bill according to the customer’s peak power usage. These
may be applied by utilities to commercial and industrial customers (e.g., EV charging stations) to
encourage customers to manage their energy consumption and avoid charging activity at times of
peak demand. Depending on a charging station’s location and utilization rate, demand charges
may represent a large portion of a customer’s electricity bill.42 As DC Fast charging ports can
draw large amounts of power quickly, DC Fast charging station deployment may be more affected
by high demand charges than other charging levels. If the regulatory regime of a utility allows for
rate incentives to defer charging to lower demand periods, the impact of power demand could be
lessened. Such approaches may require “smart” charging systems or require an EV owner to
subscribe to a rate incentive program. Additional power demand management could include twoway electricity flow for vehicle-to-grid options.43
Demand charges for EV charging stations that are based upon a customer’s peak power usage
(which may or may not occur at peak system demand) have been of interest to Congress. Citing a
report44 that found that demand-based charges can account for most of an EV charging station’s
operating expense and can exceed the revenue generated by the station, some Members of
Congress have asked FERC to “initiate rate review and reform efforts to address barriers to
transportation electrification on the same schedule as IIJA §40431 obliges all 50 states to act.”45
Pricing for charging an EV can depend on location, timing, and service provider. For EV drivers,
public charging may be free of charge at certain locations46 or may be subject to a pricing
structure such as pay-as-you-go or monthly subscription.47 Membership or subscription setup, for
41 Gil Tal, et al., “Factors Affecting Demand for Plug-in Charging Infrastructure: An Analysis of Plug-in Electric
Vehicle Commuters,” University of California, Institute of Transportation Studies, pp. 16-18, https://escholarship.org/
uc/item/1jh8127j.
42 EVGo, a charging station owner-operator, reportedly shared that demand charges can represent up to 93% of
monthly electricity bills for a charging station depending on location and utilization rate, as well as rate design in the
area. Future Electric Utility Regulation, The Future of Transportation Electrification: Utility, Industry and Consumer
Perspectives, August 2018, p. 75, https://eta-publications.lbl.gov/sites/default/files/
feur_10_transportation_electrification_final_20180813.pdf.
43 Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) options allow not only electricity to be drawn from the grid to charge a vehicle battery but
also electricity to be delivered to the grid from the vehicle battery. In this way, electricity stored in an otherwise idle
vehicle battery could supply electricity to the grid rather than drawing power from it during peak demand periods.
44 Arara Blue Energy Group LLC, An EV Future: Navigating the Transition, a Voices of Experience report prepared for
DOE Advanced Grid Research and Development Division, October 2021, pp. 10-11, https://smartgrid.gov/files/
documents/An_EV_future_10.21.21_FINAL.pdf. See “Measures to Promote Electrification of the Transportation
Sector” for information on IIJA §40431.
45 Letter from Senator Hickenlooper, Senator Tillis, Representative Kuster, and Representative Dusty Johnson to FERC
Chairman Glick and Commissioners, June 16, 2022, https://subscriber.politicopro.com/f/?id=00000181-87a5-d221a5c5-a7afc61f0000.
46 Some automakers may offer free charging for drivers of certain models (limits may apply to the amount of charging
or the duration of applicability). Tesla and Toyota are two such automakers. Electrek, “How to Tell If Your Tesla
Qualifies for Free Supercharging,” July 21, 2021, https://electrek.co/2021/07/21/how-to-tell-if-your-tesla-qualifies-forfree-supercharging/. InsideEVs, “2023 Toyota bZ4X Buyers Will Get One Year of Free EVgo Charging,” February 24,
2022, https://insideevs.com/news/569723/toyota-bz4x-evgo-1year-freecharging/.
47 Enel X, “The Ultimate Guide to Electric Vehicle Public Charging Pricing,” November 12, 2019,
https://evcharging.enelx.com/resources/blog/579-the-ultimate-guide-to-electric-vehicle-public-charging-pricing. At
least one instance exists of a utility piloting a program to provide unlimited charging for a flat monthly rate. Utility
Drive, “Duke May Offer Some EV Customers ‘All You Can Charge’ for Just $19.99/month (Restrictions Apply),”
(continued...)
Congressional Research Service
12
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
free or for a fee, may also be required for free or pay-as-you-go charging.48 Pay-as-you-go may
charge by time, by electricity usage, or as a flat fee. Additional fees may include idle fees (where
a vehicle is connected to a charging station but not actively charging), termination fees, and credit
card fees. For EV charging infrastructure projects that receive federal funds, FHWA established
through rulemaking minimum standards and requirements that state that the price for charging
must be based on the price for electricity to charge in $/kWh.49
In addition to ownership, rate design, and pricing, the rate of energy consumption by an EV
charging station also depends upon the vehicles using the station and the frequency of their use.
Vehicle-specific factors can include vehicle size and weight, engine efficiency, energy
consumption of auxiliary systems (e.g., heating and cooling), and battery capacity.50 For EVs,
everything from the driving to the climate control system is powered by the same battery pack. A
number of driving factors also influence fuel economy, and thus electricity consumption. These
include how quickly the driver accelerates, the amount of stop-and-go driving, and the amount of
idling. The effect on fuel economy by any one of these factors varies.51
Total electricity demand associated with EV charging stations depends upon these above factors,
as well as the number of EVs on the road. According to one analysis, 4.68 terawatt-hours (TWh)
were used to power EVs in the United States in 2020, an increase from 3.87 TWh in 2019.52 In an
analysis sponsored by DOE, an unmanaged charging scenario, which was considered as an
illustrative “worst case” scenario, estimated that “12 GW [gigawatts] of dispatchable generating
capacity is equivalent to the aggregate demand of nearly 6 million new EVs. This accounts to 1 to
3 times the projected EV market growth through 2030 in the high and medium scenarios
respectively.”53 The scenario did not account for managed charging, which can reduce the peak
demand associated with vehicle charging through charging schedule flexibility. The conclusion
from the study is that “sufficient energy generation and generation capacity is expected to be
available to support a growing EV fleet as it evolves over time, even with high EV market
growth.”54 For comparison, in 2020 the total U.S. electric power sector capacity was
approximately 1,091 GW.55 The DOE-supported report estimates that each EV requires 3.8
megawatt-hours per year, assuming consumption at a rate of 300 watt-hours per mile, 12,000
February 23, 2022, https://www.utilitydive.com/news/duke-may-offer-some-ev-customers-all-you-can-charge-for-just1999month/619210/.
48 For NEVI- and certain other federally-funded charging infrastructure projects, NEVI Standards and Requirements
disallows payment methods that require membership; NEVI Standards and Requirements, 23 C.F.R. 680 (2023).
49 See 23 C.F.R. § 680.116 and Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, “National Electric
Vehicle Infrastructure Standards and Requirements,” 88 Federal Register 12749, March 30, 2023.
50 CRS Report R46420, Environmental Effects of Battery Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles, by
Richard K. Lattanzio and Corrie E. Clark, pp. 16-18.
51 EPA, “Your Mileage May Vary,” accessed March 1, 2022, https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/your-mileage-mayvary.
52 S&P Global, “US EV Sales Tumble in 2020, but EV Load Increases with More Charging Stations,” January 29,
2021, https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/electric-power/012821-us-ev-sales-tumble-in2020-but-ev-load-increases-with-more-charging-stations.
53 Grid Integration Tech Team and Integrated Systems Analysis Tech Team, Summary Report on EVs at Scale and the
U.S. Electric Power System, November 2019, p. iv, https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/12/f69/
GITT%20ISATT%20EVs%20at%20Scale%20Grid%20Summary%20Report%20FINAL%20Nov2019.pdf.
54 Ibid., p. v.
55 EIA, AEO 2021, “Table 9: Electricity Generating Capacity,” February 3, 2021, https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo/.
Congressional Research Service
13
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
miles traveled annually, and 4.9% system losses.56 As of December 31, 2021, 1,454,500 BEVs
were registered in the United States, and 786,700 PHEVs were registered.57
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
The IIJA includes several provisions that address vehicle electrification, including new spending
to increase the EV charging network.58 Two new programs with $7.5 billion in total funding over
five years (FY2022-FY2026) constitute IIJA’s major EV charging priorities: $2.5 billion
authorized and appropriated from the Highway Trust Fund for the Grants for Charging and
Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) program and $5 billion in multi-year general fund appropriations for
the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Grant program. Division J of the
IIJA also authorized the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to implement these and other
programs. Following is a summary of the major IIJA provisions affecting EV charging
deployments. Appendix B provides an overview of spending levels for these programs.
Joint Office of Energy and Transportation
The IIJA directed the establishment of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (“Joint
Office”) within DOE and DOT to handle issues between the agencies, including strategies to
reduce transportation-related emissions and the effects of climate change. The Joint Office is
directed to provide support for the deployment of the $7.5 billion investments in EV charging
infrastructure and to provide technical assistance to states in developing their EV charging
plans.59
Coordinating the Federal Role in EV Charging
The Departments of Energy (DOE) and Transportation (DOT) entered into a memorandum of understanding
(MOU) on December 14, 2021, defining the purpose and scope of a new office—which will be housed at DOE—
and aligning the two agencies’ resources and expertise. The specific issues the Joint Office of Energy and
Transportation (“Joint Office”) will address include technical assistance and data sharing in deploying and operating
electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) and hydrogen fueling infrastructure; development of related training and
certification programs; and performance of a study of EVSE and hydrogen infrastructure needs that will support
“community resilience and electric vehicle (EV) integration.” As stipulated in the IIJA, the Joint Office staffing and
programs will be funded by $300 million as part of the FY2022 NEVI apportionment. The MOU remains in effect
until terminated by either agency and will be re-evaluated at least every two years and may be modified.60 The
Joint Office website is https://driveelectric.gov.
56 Energy consumption assumed to be AC; Grid Integration Tech Team and Integrated Systems Analysis Tech Team,
Summary Report on EVs at Scale and the U.S. Electric Power System, November 2019, p. 3.
57 AFDC, “Light-Duty AFV Registrations,” updated August 2022, https://afdc.energy.gov/data/10861.
58 Section 11403 of the IIJA (P.L. 117-58) also establishes a new DOT Carbon Reduction Program that can be used for
a range of programs to reduce transportation emissions; among the projects that are eligible for these grants are
acquisition, installation, and operation of publicly available EV charging infrastructure.
59 DOE, “DOE and DOT Launch Joint Effort to Build Out Nationwide Electric Vehicle Charging Network,” press
release, December 14, 2021, https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-and-dot-launch-joint-effort-build-out-nationwideelectric-vehicle-charging-network.
60 DOE and DOT, Memorandum of Understanding, December 14, 2021, https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/
2021-12/DOE%20DOT%20Joint%20Office%20MOU%2012.14.21_0.pdf.
Congressional Research Service
14
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program
Division J of IIJA establishes a $5 billion formula grant program ($1 billion in each of FY2022FY2026) within DOT to provide funding for states for the deployment of EV charging
infrastructure along the national highway system and primarily along alternative fuel corridors
(AFCs; see box below for details) designated for EVs. The federal cost-share for NEVI projects is
80%. Although funding for each state will be based on a formula, states will be required to submit
plans for that spending, based on FHWA criteria. In March 2023, FHWA published the NEVI
Standards and Requirements, which establish minimum standards around the installation,
operation, and maintenance of NEVI- and certain other federally-funded charging infrastructure.61
Projects must be directly related to EV charging that is open to the general public, with a priority
of building out charging infrastructure along AFCs. If a state builds out its AFCs, the installation
of charging infrastructure at other publicly accessible locations is allowed at the discretion of the
state.62 The Standards and Requirements provide guidance on other aspects of the strategic
deployment of charging infrastructure, including:
•
•
•
The Standards and Requirements complement FHWA NEVI program guidance
encouraging new charging stations along AFCs to be spaced a maximum distance
of 50 miles apart, within 1 mile of the roadway, and establishing a process for
states to request exceptions;
Charging stations are required to have a minimum of four ports (Level 2 or DC
Fast, to charge a minimum of four EVs simultaneously), with an additional
requirement of a minimum of four network-connected DC Fast ports for charging
stations located along and designed to serve users of AFCs, and with flexibility in
the number of ports for community-focused charging stations near AFCs; and
DC Fast ports located along AFCs and designed to serve those users must supply
up to 150 kW per port simultaneously, and each Level 2 port must supply at least
6 kW per port simultaneously. Power sharing is allowed under certain conditions.
FHWA’s NEVI program guidance from February 10, 2022 (updated and superseded on June 2,
2023), provides many details about its operation and requirements.63 Among its guidance:
•
•
•
FHWA expects most state recipients will engage private contractors to install,
operate, and maintain the EV infrastructure and those private companies are
permitted to provide all or part of the 20% nonfederal cost-share. States may also
own or lease EV charging infrastructure;
States are encouraged to seek technical assistance from the Joint Office so their
plans comply with all guidance and requirements, including maps showing
expected investments, analysis of anticipated usage rates and peak demand,
cybersecurity plans, and trained workforce considerations. All approved plans
will be publicly accessible on DOT’s website; and
NEVI “will emphasize equity considerations at its inception” and will require
states to develop their plans through engagement with “rural, underserved and
disadvantaged communities.”64
61 NEVI Standards and Requirements, 23 C.F.R. 680 (2023). FHWA, NEVI Formula Program Guidance, p. 28.
62 NEVI Standards and Requirements, 23 C.F.R. 680 (2023). Such locations could be public schools and parks, private
parking facilities available for public use, or parking at public buildings, including on locations on federal lands.
63 FHWA, NEVI Formula Program Guidance.
64 Ibid, pp. 16.
Congressional Research Service
15
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
In July 2023, the Joint Office published its first annual report for NEVI.65 The report provides an
overview of the first year of state deployment plans and certain activities of the Joint Office.
65 Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, Annual
Report, Plan Year 2022-2023, July 2023, https://driveelectric.gov/files/nevi-annual-report-2022-2023.pdf.
Congressional Research Service
16
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Alternative Fuel Corridors
Section 1413 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act; P.L. 114-94) requires the Department
of Transportation (DOT) to designate and periodically update national alternative fuel corridors (AFCs) to
promote vehicle use of electricity, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas. DOT’s Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA) has worked with other federal, state, and local officials and industry groups to designate these corridors.
FHWA assigns designations to highways as either “corridor ready”—those with sufficient fueling stations to serve
a corridor—or “corridor pending”—those with insufficient fueling. In the case of electric vehicles (EVs), a
corridor-ready designation applies if there are EV charging stations at 50-mile intervals, with a goal of establishing
direct current fast charging (DC Fast) infrastructure along those routes (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Electric Vehicle Alternative Fuel Corridors
Source: Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),
https://highways.dot.gov/newsroom/usdot-announces-all-50-states-dc-and-puerto-rico-now-have-alternativefuel-corridor.
Notes: Designations through 2022. “Ready” designations are those corridors with electric vehicle (EV)
charging at regular intervals; “Pending” designations are those corridors without EV charging at regular
intervals. Corridor-ready EV designations for Round 6 (the current round as of May 2023) use the same
criteria as the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program for “fully built out” corridors.
FHWA used different criteria for previous corridor-ready EV designations in prior rounds.
Under this program, FHWA has developed standardized AFC signage and other forms of public education, and
encouraged regional cooperation in planning new fueling networks. FHWA has undertaken six rounds of AFC
nominations, the latest announced in July 2022. FHWA has identified building out alternative fuel corridors on the
most traveled Interstates, such as I-95 and I-80, as priorities for funding. With round six, AFC corridors have been
designated in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.66
66 Federal Highway Administration, “USDOT Announces All 50 States, DC and Puerto Rico Now Have Alternative
Fuel Corridor Designations, Which Will Help Build Out National Electric Vehicle Charging Network,” press release,
July 6, 2022, https://highways.dot.gov/newsroom/usdot-announces-all-50-states-dc-and-puerto-rico-now-havealternative-fuel-corridor.
Congressional Research Service
17
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Grants for Charging and Fueling Infrastructure
Section 11401 of IIJA establishes a $2.5 billion competitive grant program within DOT for the
strategic deployment of publicly accessible alternative fuel infrastructure—electricity, hydrogen,
propane, and natural gas—along designated AFCs. Each fiscal year, half of the grant funding is to
be applied to facilities along highway corridors—the Corridor Charging Grant Program—and the
other half is to be applied to off-highway uses in parking lots of public buildings and other similar
publicly-accessible locations—the Community Charging Grant Program.67 Eligible state and local
governments and public transportation authorities that receive grants may establish partnerships
with private entities such as corporations, partnerships, companies, and nonprofit organizations to
acquire and install fueling infrastructure. The IIJA states that priority shall be given to projects
within rural areas, low- and moderate-income communities, and communities with lower rates of
private parking spaces or higher rates of multi-unit dwellings.
Electric Vehicle Working Group
Section 25006 of IIJA directs DOT and DOE to establish a working group to produce three
reports over a period of six years describing the status of EV adoption, identifying barriers and
opportunities, and making recommendations regarding the integration of light, medium, and
heavy duty EVs into the transportation system. The working group is directed to submit the
reports to the Senate Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Appropriations,
and the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Appropriations. The
Secretaries of Transportation and Energy are directed to use these reports to develop strategies for
EV adoption and deployment.68 The working group is to have no more than 25 members
representing diverse perspectives from federal agencies, industry and other nonfederal
stakeholders, such as public utilities, and state and local governments.
State Energy Program (SEP)
DOE’s State Energy Program (SEP) provides grants and technical assistance to states, the District
of Columbia, and U.S. territories to promote the efficient use of energy and reduce the rate of
growth of energy demand through the development and implementation of specific state energy
programs. The SEP originated as the State Energy Conservation Program, which was authorized
by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (P.L. 94-163), and the program has been
amended several times.
The IIJA further amends the SEP. Section 40109 of IIJA authorizes funding and technical
assistance to states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories to promote the efficient use of
energy and reduce the rate of growth of energy demand through the development and
implementation of specific state energy plans.69
Section 40109 of IIJA amends the mandatory features and optional features for financial
assistance. Mandatory features are expanded to include activities to support transmission and
distribution planning. Optional features are amended by making changes to a provision related to
67 FHWA, “Charging and Fueling Infrastructure [CFI] Discretionary Grant Program,” updated March 30, 2023,
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/cfi/.
68 Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, “Electric Vehicle Working Group,” accessed April 7, 2023,
https://driveelectric.gov/ev-working-group/.
69 The State Energy Program (SEP) is authorized under Part D of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA; 42
U.S.C. §§6321 et seq.). EPCA Section 362 specifies mandatory features and optional features of state energy plans in
order to be eligible for financial assistance through the SEP. DOE administers the SEP.
Congressional Research Service
18
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
programs that increase transportation efficiency. Previously, the provision included programs that
accelerate alternative fuels. Section 40109 expands the options to include programs to help reduce
carbon emissions in the transportation sector by 2050, accelerate the use of alternative
transportation fuels, and accelerate transportation electrification. Section 40109 also expands the
optional program focus to “state government vehicles, fleet vehicles, taxis and ridesharing
services, mass transit, school buses, ferries, and privately owned passenger and medium- and
heavy-duty vehicles.”
Appropriations totaling $500 million for SEP are provided by Division J, Title III for the period
FY2022 through FY2026. Section 40109 specifies that the distribution of funds to states shall be
according to the formula in effect on January 1, 2021, and that there is not a cost-share
requirement associated with these funds.
Data Collection on Electric Vehicle Integration with the Electricity
Grids
Section 40414 of IIJA requires EIA to expand within one year its data collection related to EVs.
Data sources may include charging stations, utilities, owners of EVs, and electric balancing
authorities.
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices Updates
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), issued by FHWA, defines the
nationwide standards used by road managers to install and maintain traffic control devices and
signage on all public streets, highways, and bikeways. Its principles of safe traffic control and
related devices are supported and amended from time to time by a nonprofit organization.70
Section 11129 of IIJA directs that the MUTCD be updated to address issues with EV charging
infrastructure, including requirements that EV charging stations provide non-proprietary charging
connectors and also have access to secure and convenient payment methods.
Measures to Promote Electrification of the Transportation Sector
Section 40431 of IIJA amends Section 111(d) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of
1978 (PURPA; 16 U.S.C. §2621(d)) (as amended by Section 40104(a)(1)) by adding a standard
for EV charging programs. The section directs states to consider measures to promote greater
transportation electrification. These measures include establishing rates that promote affordable
and equitable EV charging options for residential, commercial, and public charging infrastructure;
improving the customer experience for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles; accelerating
third-party investment in EV charging; and recovering the marginal costs of delivering electricity
to EVs and charging infrastructure.
Section 40431 also establishes time periods for commencing consideration (no later than one year
after enactment) and completing consideration and determination (no later than two years after
enactment) of the EV charging programs standard. For states that have acted prior to enactment
either through implementing an EV charging program standard, conducting a regulatory
70 The Highway Safety Act of 1966 required states to adhere to uniform standards as a condition of receiving federal
highway funding. To meet this requirement DOT adopted MUTCD in 23 C.F.R. 655.603. The National Committee on
Uniform Traffic Control Devices is a private, nonprofit organization that recommends changes to the manual from time
to time. It is comprised of transportation groups, such as the American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and safety groups such as the National Safety Council and the American
Automobile Association (AAA).
Congressional Research Service
19
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
proceeding to consider a standard, or voting on legislation on implementation of a standard,
compliance requirements do not apply.
State approaches to regulation vary considerably. Rules and regulations governing the retail sale
of electricity generally originate with a state public utility commission. Under Section 111(d) of
PURPA (16 U.S.C. §2621(d)), as amended, state regulatory authorities are required to consider
the implementation of certain standards. Per Section 111(a) each state regulatory authority and
each nonregulated electric utility shall consider each standard established by Section 111(d) and
make a determination concerning whether or not it is appropriate to implement such standard.
State electricity regulators (i.e., state public utility commissions) “must consider,” for their
regulated electric utilities (usually but not always only investor-owned utilities), whether to adopt
the standards as requirements on those electric utilities. Note that PURPA requires that its “statesmust-consider” provisions apply only to electric utilities over a certain minimum size threshold
(42 U.S.C. §2612).
Clean School Bus Program
Section 71101 of IIJA establishes a $5 billion Clean School Bus Program within the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with funds appropriated for FY2022 through FY2026.71
The program provides competitive grants and rebates for the replacement of existing school buses
with alternative fuel buses (e.g., operated entirely or in part with natural gas, hydrogen, or
biofuels) and zero emission buses (i.e., produce no pollutants or GHG emissions from the
tailpipe). Eligible entities include those providing school bus service to one or more public school
systems or purchasing school buses, contractors involved in the sale of vehicles, charging
infrastructure, and other relevant equipment, and nonprofit school transportation association. At
least 50% of allocated funds must be provided for grants to replace existing buses with zeroemission buses, exclusively. EPA is directed to develop an education and outreach program and
submit an annual report to Congress evaluating the implementation of this section.
Low or No Emission Vehicle Program
The Low or No Emission Vehicle Program is a competitive grant program administered by the
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) that provides funding for capital expenses to purchase or
lease buses that emit low levels of pollutants, including GHGs.72 This funding can be used for the
“purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses, including acquisition,
construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities such as recharging, refueling, and
maintenance facilities.”73 Facilities that support these buses are also eligible for funding. Funding
provided totals about $1.1 billion a year, $1.05 billion appropriated from the general fund and the
rest authorized from the Highway Trust Fund. In the previous authorization of public
transportation programs, as extended, the Low or No Emission Vehicle Program was funded at
$55 million per year from FY2016 through FY2021.
71 EPA, “Clean School Bus Program,” updated February 8, 2023, https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus.
72 49 U.S.C. §5339(c).
73 Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), “FY 2023 Competitive Funding
Opportunity: Low or No Emission Grant Program and the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program,”
88 Federal Register 18, January 27, 2023, p. 5401.
Congressional Research Service
20
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
This program is in addition to programs administered by FTA that can provide grants for EVs
including non-road vehicles. Such grant programs include the Buses and Bus Facilities
Competitive Program and the Electric or Low Emitting Ferry Pilot Program.74
Other Federal Programs
In addition to programs authorized and funded through the IIJA, other federal programs
encourage the deployment of EV charging stations. These have evolved over the past few decades
among several agencies and within the tax code. A summary of existing programs follows.
Clean Cities Program
The DOE’s Clean Cities program supports local actions to reduce petroleum use in
transportation.75 The program funds transportation projects nationwide through a competitive
application process, and leverages these funds with additional public- and private-sector matching
funds and in-kind contributions.76 While the program supports a variety of alternative fuels and
vehicles in an effort to reduce petroleum use, funding opportunities from Clean Cities that
directly support EVs include educational best practices programs for communities planning
workplace events to promote EV charging and the EV Everywhere Plug‐In Electric Vehicle Local
Showcases. Since 1998, DOE has awarded more than $490 million to 632 transportation
alternative fuels project awards—including some for EV charging—that leveraged an additional
$844 million in matching funds and in-kind contributions from private and other public sector
partners.77
Federal Highway Funding
Federal highway funding is generally eligible for alternative fueling infrastructure, including EV
charging infrastructure and AFC signage.78 For example, FHWA’s Congestion Mitigation and Air
Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program provides funding to states and local governments to fund
transportation projects and programs to help meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act. Projects
that are expected to reduce transportation emissions, including installation of alternative fuel
infrastructure, are eligible for funding.79
74 For more information on FTA programs, see CRS Report R47002, Federal Public Transportation Program: In Brief,
by William J. Mallett.
75 EERE, Clean Cities: Building Partnerships to Cut Petroleum Use in Transportation, DOE/GO-102015-4743,
November 2015, https://www.afdc.energy.gov/uploads/publication/clean_cities_overview.pdf.
76 For more information see EERE, Clean Cities Coalition Network, “Goals and Accomplishments,”
https://cleancities.energy.gov/accomplishments/.
77 Clean Cities, “Funded Projects,” https://cleancities.energy.gov/partnerships/projects. In addition to the EV
Everywhere Plug-In Electric Vehicle Local Showcase, the Electric Vehicle Community Readiness program provided
one-time funding of $8.5 million in 2011 to 16 projects to help communities prepare for plug-in electric vehicles and
charging infrastructure. As part of the readiness program, community partnerships collaborated on plans to deploy EVs,
including activities such as streamlining permitting processes, revising building codes, training emergency personnel,
educating the public, and developing incentives. AFDC, “Plug-In Vehicle Readiness,” https://afdc.energy.gov/pevreadiness.html.
78 FHWA, Federal Funding Is Available for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure on the National Highway System,
April 22, 2022, https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/alternative_fuel_corridors/resources/
ev_funding_report_2022.pdf.
79 FHWA, “Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program,” updated March 23, 2020,
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/air_quality/cmaq/.
Congressional Research Service
21
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit
One of the primary federal incentives for EV charging infrastructure is the Alternative Fuel
Vehicle Refueling Property Credit, which was extended and modified in Section 13404 of the
IRA.80 Qualifying property includes EV charging stations, and is expanded to include charging
stations of 2- and 3-wheeled vehicles (for use on public roads) and bidirectional charging
equipment (i.e., vehicle-to-grid or V2G).81 Starting in 2023, qualifying property is limited to that
placed in service within low-income or non-urban census tracts; this limitation would apply for
both business and residential properties. For business property, the credit amount is 6% of the
cost with a maximum amount of $100,000.82 Business property meeting prevailing wage and
registered apprenticeship requirements may be eligible for a credit amount of 30% (but subject to
the same $100,000 maximum). For residential property, the credit amount is 30% with a
maximum amount of $1,000.83
Electrify America
In 2016, Volkswagen Group of America reached a number of legal settlements concerning
violations of the Clean Air Act.84 As part of its settlement terms, Volkswagen Group pledged to
invest $2 billion over a 10-year period in zero-emissions vehicle infrastructure and education in
select U.S. cities.85 Volkswagen Group has met the terms of this settlement by establishing
Electrify America, a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group, which plans to have more than 1,700 DC
Fast charging stations and 9,500 individual charging ports installed in the United States by the
end of 2025.86 As an additional condition, Volkswagen Group was also required to fund a $2.7
billion national Environmental Mitigation Trust, funds from which are available to states and
other beneficiaries for mitigating the negative impacts of the excess diesel emissions that were
released by Volkswagen Group’s noncompliant vehicles. States could choose to spend some of
this special funding on bus electrification, including school buses.
80 26 U.S.C. §30C. Established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58).
81 The credit can be claimed one time per station location regardless of the number of charging ports at the location.
82 Previously, the credit amount for business property was 30% with a maximum of $30,000.
83 This is continued from the previous credit amounts.
84 EPA, “EPA Approved National ZEV Investment Plan,” press release, April 9, 2017, https://www.epa.gov/
enforcement/epa-approved-national-zev-investment-plan-public-version; and CRS Report R44372, Volkswagen, Defeat
Devices, and the Clean Air Act: Frequently Asked Questions, by Bill Canis et al.
85 Of that amount, $800 million is to be spent in California.
86 Electrify America, “Electrify America Announces Its ‘Boost Plan’ to More Than Double Its Current EV Charging
Network by End of 2025,” press release, July 13, 2021, https://media.electrifyamerica.com/en-us/releases/149.
Congressional Research Service
22
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Appendix A. Apportionment of FY2022 Highway
Infrastructure Program Funds for Electric Vehicle
Charging
Table A-1. National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program
Apportionments in millions of dollars
State
FY2022
FY2023
State
FY2022
FY2023
Alabama
11.7
16.9
Montana
6.3
9.1
Alaska
7.8
11.2
Nebraska
4.5
6.4
Arizona
11.3
16.3
Nevada
5.6
8.1
Arkansas
8.0
11.5
New Hampshire
2.6
3.7
California
56.8
81.7
New Jersey
15.4
22.2
Colorado
8.4
12.0
New Mexico
5.7
8.2
Connecticut
7.8
11.2
New York
26.0
37.4
Delaware
2.6
3.8
North Carolina
16.1
23.2
District of Columbia
2.5
3.6
North Dakota
3.8
5.5
Florida
29.3
42.2
Ohio
20.7
29.8
Georgia
20.0
28.7
Oklahoma
9.8
14.1
Hawaii
2.6
3.8
Oregon
7.7
11.1
Idaho
4.4
6.4
Pennsylvania
25.4
36.5
Illinois
22.0
31.7
Puerto Rico
2.0
2.9
Indiana
14.7
21.2
Rhode Island
3.4
4.9
Iowa
7.6
10.9
South Carolina
10.4
14.9
Kansas
5.8
8.4
South Dakota
4.4
6.3
Kentucky
10.3
14.8
Tennessee
13.1
18.8
Louisiana
10.9
15.6
Texas
60.4
86.9
Maine
2.9
4.1
Utah
5.4
7.7
Maryland
9.3
13.4
Vermont
3.1
4.5
Massachusetts
9.4
13.5
Virginia
15.7
22.7
Michigan
16.3
23.4
Washington
10.5
15.1
Minnesota
10.1
14.5
West Virginia
6.8
9.7
Mississippi
7.5
10.8
Wisconsin
11.6
16.8
Missouri
14.6
21.1
Wyoming
4.0
5.7
Total:
615
885
Source: Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), “Apportionment of
Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Highway Infrastructure Program Funds for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
(NEVI) Formula Program Pursuant to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA),” Notice, February 10,
2022, https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/notices/n4510863.cfm. DOT, FHWA, “Apportionment of FY
2023 Highway Infrastructure Program Funds for the NEVI Formula Program Pursuant to the IIJA,” Notice,
October 6, 2022, https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/notices/n4510873.cfm.
Notes: Data in the table have been rounded.
Congressional Research Service
23
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Appendix B. Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging
Funding in IIJA
Table B-1. EV Charging Authorizations and Appropriations
Millions of Dollars
Section
Unspecified
Year
FY2022
FY2023
FY2024
FY2025
FY2026
Total
400
500
600
700
2,500
Division A—Surface Transportation
Title I—Federal-Aid Highways
Subtitle D—Climate Change
Sec. 11401
300
Division D—Energy
Title I—Grid Infrastructure and Resiliency
Subtitle A—Grid Infrastructure Resilience and Reliability
Sec. 40109
500
500
Division G—Other
Title XI—Clean School Buses and Ferries
Sec. 71101
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
5,000
1,000
5,000
Division J, Appropriations
Title VIII—Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
Joint Office of Energy and Transportation
300
Source: CRS analysis of P.L. 117-58 and Federal Highway Administration, National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
[NEVI] Formula Program Guidance (Update), June 2, 2023, p. 8, https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/
alternative_fuel_corridors/nominations/90d_nevi_formula_program_guidance.pdf.
Notes: Not all programs are specifically for EVs. Some programs are broadly for alternative fuel vehicles and
related charging and refueling infrastructure. The Joint Office funding is a set-aside from the NEVI program’s
FY2022 funding. In addition to the appropriations provided here in Division J, funding for some programs may be
provided through the Highway Trust Fund.
Congressional Research Service
24
Federal Policies to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Author Information
Melissa N. Diaz
Analyst in Energy Policy
Corrie E. Clark
Specialist in Energy Policy
Acknowledgments
A special thanks goes to Bill Canis, retired CRS Specialist in Industrial Organization and Business, who
contributed to this report.
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and
under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other
than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in
connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not
subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in
its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or
material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you wish to
copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
Congressional Research Service
R47675 · VERSION 1 · NEW
25
This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.