By Andi Anderson
The Federal Highway Administration has halted new funding for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. This program, established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, allocated $5 billion over five years to support EV charging development across U.S. states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.
Michigan was set to receive $110 million for installing fast-charging stations along major routes. While the funding freeze impacts expansion efforts, plans for increasing EV charging infrastructure remain in motion. "The utility companies in Michigan have been and will continue to invest heavily in EV infrastructure deployments in their service territories that support a variety of different use cases," said Attanasio. "And there are state programs that will continue to support EV charger deployments across the state."
The federal government has confirmed that existing contracts under the program will continue to receive reimbursements until further guidance is issued.
Currently, Michigan has approximately 3,700 public charging stations, with a long-term target of deploying 100,000 by 2030. Despite funding uncertainties, Attanasio believes Michigan can emerge as a leader in the clean mobility sector by maintaining strong investment in EV infrastructure. He emphasized that ongoing efforts will demonstrate the state’s commitment to supporting the automotive industry’s transition toward electric vehicles.
The original goal of the federal initiative was to establish 500,000 public EV chargers nationwide by 2030. However, with funding now on hold, challenges may arise in achieving this objective.
Photo Credit: istock-jmichl
Categories: Michigan, Energy