AASHTO Journal - State DOTs Issue Funding to Expand EV Charger Networks

Several state departments of transportation recently issued funding in support of ongoing efforts to build out electric vehicle (EV) recharging networks in their respective parts of the country.

[Above photo by NCDOT]

For example, on September 17, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation issued $32 million to support construction of EV chargers in Eastern Pennsylvania as part of the Community Charging phase of the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure or NEVI program. That followed the issuance of $11 million to support EV charger construction in Central Pennsylvania, along with similar announcements in the Southeast and West regions of the state earlier this year.

Through the Community Charging funding rounds, Pennsylvania is directing over $100 million total in federal funding to build public EV charging stations, in addition to the $58 million the state has already invested in its Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) and Corridor Connections programs.

To date, PennDOT said it has supported construction of nearly 50 stations using NEVI funds, with 41 more stations in various stages of planning and construction.

Meanwhile, the North Carolina Department of Transportation recently awarded $14.4 million to eight businesses, which will construct and operate EV charging stations in 14 locations – joining the five EV charging stations already built in North Carolina using NEVI program funds in 2024.

“The number of electric vehicles registered in North Carolina continues to increase,” said Heather Hildebrandt, NCDOT’s state initiatives manager, in a statement. “By expanding our electric vehicle charging network, we’re making it easier for everyone to travel confidently across the state, while supporting a cleaner, more modern transportation economy.”

She noted that North Carolina’s full EV charging network funded through this program is expected to be complete in three years. A later phase of development will involve placing chargers in communities and other rural areas with greater needs, the agency added.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation made more than $41 million available the third, and largest, round of NEVI program funding at the beginning of September, with proposals from projects seeking that funding due by November 2.

Roughly 80 percent of the funds for round three come from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act with 20 percent provided by the backers of those EV charging projects, the agency said.

“NEVI funding is used to further develop a fast-charging network and will go a long way towards reducing range anxiety for long-distance travel needs in our state,” said Nancy Daubenberger, MnDOT commissioner, in a statement. “Expanding our fast-charging network will provide more confidence, flexibility and opportunity for people in Minnesota who are driving EVs, or who want to in the future.”

To date, MnDOT has released two rounds of EV charging funding totaling more than $16 million, supporting 24 fast-charging sites through a combination of federal, state and private investment along I-94, I-35, and I-90.