The Trump administration took more steps last week to pull the plug on the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program.
The Federal Highway Administration notified state departments of transportation Thursday that it was rescinding all guidelines for the program it authorized two years ago to build 500 charging stations across the country while it reviews the guidelines to see how they meet the goals of the new administration. The letter said the agency also won’t review and approve annual deployment plans required from the states for the release of money to build more stations until it finishes further evaluation of the program in late spring.
“As result of the rescission of the NEVI Formula Program Guidance, FHWA is also immediately suspending the approval of all State Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment plans for all fiscal years,” Emily Biondi, associate administrator in the Office of Planning, Environment and Realty, said in the letter.
“Therefore, effective immediately, no new obligations may occur under the NEVI Formula Program until the updated final NEVI Formula Program Guidance is issued and new state plans are submitted and approved.”
This letter follows President Donald Trump’s executive order on his first day in office canceling the distribution of any funds under the program, one of the Biden administration’s key efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and grow manufacturing by mandating that electric vehicles make up at least half of all new vehicle sales by 2030. Then-President Joe Biden believed ensuring drivers had charging stations available every 50 miles along interstate highways and other high-traffic areas would encourage increased sales.
Under the program, the FHWA authorized $171.5 million for Pennsylvania to build 150 stations, first filling gaps along major corridors, then moving to urban and rural areas. So far, 91 stations are under contract and five are open in the state, third most in the country.
Zachary Appleby, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, said in an email statement that the future of the program still isn’t clear.
“We are continuing to evaluate the FHWA memo issued [Thursday] to determine what impact, if any, it will have on the 91 NEVI projects across Pennsylvania that are under contract,” he said. “Our evaluation will also review the FHWA memo to determine potential impacts on upcoming project phases.”
Pittsburgh also received $2.4 million from the FHWA in August to help pay for 100 stations in the city through the NEVI program. Mayor Ed Gainey’s office didn’t respond to requests for comment on the fate of its charging stations.
Trump previously has made it clear he doesn’t favor the program, calling it an attempt to force consumers to buy more expensive electric vehicles and quit using gasoline. Another of his first acts last month was pulling out of the United Nations Paris climate control efforts.
Groups that support electric vehicle growth issued statements Friday criticizing Trump for interrupting the construction of charging stations.
Charge Ahead Partnership, a group encouraging expansion of the charging network, said NEVI may have had some problems, but it doesn’t want the program to be discontinued.
“While it is clear that NEVI didn’t solve the industry’s challenges, the program was a step in the right direction by prioritizing establishments that would have skin in the game, was making a long-term investment in EV charging, and — most importantly — was in the actual places where drivers would use the chargers,” spokesman Ryan McKinnon said.
“We hope the FHWA takes this opportunity to ensure state NEVI plans are encouraging private investment in EV charging while also being confident that federal funds are not being wasted.”
Genevieve Cullen, president of the Electric Drive Transportation Association, said every state would benefit from NEVI and urged Trump not to kill the program.
“The NEVI program, created in bipartisan legislation, is an effective and important element of a truly strategic energy policy that promotes U.S. innovation, domestic investment and energy security,” she said.
“We urge the administration to quickly resume the critical work of the program and minimize uncertainty for states and their businesses, who have invested in infrastructure to serve local and national goals for advanced transportation.”
Some environmental groups also had strong reactions.
Evergreen Action called Trump’s action a “brazen act of sabotage.” Justin Balik, the group’s senior state program director, said the president is “attempting to kneecap progress to fuel a divisive culture war” by canceling the program.
“His administration’s move to block funding for a bipartisan effort to build out our national EV charging network is a blatant illegal power grab thinly disguised as a bureaucratic update,” Balik said. “This program — the single largest EV charging infrastructure investment in U.S. history — is critical to modernizing our infrastructure and tackling the climate crisis, and it must move forward without disruption.”
Curiously, news website Business Insider noted that Trump adviser Elon Musk, who owns electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla, has been one of the major benefactors of the NEVI program. Tesla has received $31.1 million through the program, the third highest grant amount.
Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at eblazina@unionprogress.com.