U.S. Federal Government Approves Charging Plans for all 50 States

By Christian Roselund

On 27 September, 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that it has approved EV charging plans for all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Washington D.C. This will now unlock federal funding for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 totaling more than $1.5 billion for the deployment of charging stations. US DOT plans for these to cover 120,000 kilometers of highway across the nation.

These funds for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 will largely be used to continue the build-out of charging stations along existing “alternative fuel corridors” in the interstate highway system. These must be located no greater than 80 kilometers between on station and another, and no more than 1.6 kilometers from highway exists. Stations must include four combined connectors, with no less than 600 kW of capacity.

The DC fast charging infrastructure in place is currently in very different stages depending on the state, and state plans show very different levels of ambition. The maps provided in state plans show California’s extensive network of public DC fast charging stations along all major highways. Texas and Florida, the 2nd and 3rd most populous states, are far behind, with DC stations meeting national guidelines much further spread out. Texas’ map shows only one existing DC fast charging station in its entire Panhandle region, and none on the 500 kilometers of highway between San Antonio and the Mexican border.

Levels of funding also vary between states. California will receive $348 million over five years, and Texas will receive $408 million. However, Florida will receive only $198 million.

Source: Historic Step: All Fifty States Plus D.C. and Puerto Rico Greenlit to Move EV Charging Networks Forward, Covering 75,000 Miles of Highway (U.S. Department of Transportation)