The $7.5 Billion Question: Where is the Money for the US EV Charging Network Going?
The answer lies in a meticulously planned, two-pronged federal strategy designed to build both a national highway charging network and fill in the charging gaps within local communities.
Part 1: The NEVI Program - Building the National EV Highway 🛣️
The lion's share of the funding, $5 billion, is being distributed to states through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. The primary goal of the NEVI program is to create a reliable and convenient "alternative fuel corridor" along the nation's Interstate Highway System.
The money is allocated to states based on a federal formula, and each state was required to submit a detailed deployment plan to the federal government for approval. The core requirements for how states spend their NEVI funds are strict and standardized to ensure a consistent user experience everywhere:
Location, Location, Location: Charging stations must be located every 50 miles along the designated interstate corridors.
Proximity to the Highway: Each station must be within one mile of the highway exit.
Powerful and Fast: Every NEVI-funded station must have at least four DC fast chargers, each capable of delivering 150 kilowatts (kW) of power simultaneously. This ensures that modern EVs can add significant range in a short amount of time (typically 20-30 minutes).
Reliability and Uptime: To combat the frustrating problem of broken chargers, the rules mandate that the network must be operational 97% of the time.
Open Access: The chargers must be accessible to everyone. Drivers cannot be required to have a membership, and stations must accept standard payment methods.
This money flows from the federal government to state Departments of Transportation, which then award grants to private companies—such as charging network operators like Electrify America, EVgo, and ChargePoint, as well as fuel retailers and convenience store chains—who will build, own, and operate the charging stations. As of late 2025, states across the country have approved their plans and are in the process of awarding contracts, with the first NEVI-funded stations already operational in states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Part 2: The Discretionary Grant Program - Powering Local Communities 🏙️
The remaining $2.5 billion is allocated for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program. This competitive grant program is designed to complement the highway network by funding chargers in locations where people live and work.
This money is aimed at filling in the gaps left by the NEVI program and addressing charging equity. The goals are to build charging infrastructure in:
Urban and Rural Communities: Placing chargers in neighborhoods, public parks, and local destinations.
Multi-Family Housing: Providing charging options for the millions of Americans who live in apartments and condos and cannot install a home charger.
Workplaces: Encouraging employers to install chargers for their employees.
Underserved and Disadvantaged Areas: Ensuring that the benefits of the EV transition are accessible to all communities, not just affluent ones.
Unlike the NEVI formula funds, this money is awarded through a competitive process where local governments, transit agencies, and private entities can apply directly to the federal government for project funding. The first rounds of these grants have been awarded, funding projects from public charging hubs in small towns to EV charger installations at apartment complexes in major cities.
Progress and Hurdles on the Road to 500,000 Chargers 🚧
The goal of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is to help build a national network of 500,000 public EV chargers. While the funding is in place, the rollout has faced real-world challenges. The process of upgrading local utility grids, navigating complex permitting processes, and addressing supply chain constraints for charging hardware has made the deployment slower than initially projected.
However, the program is a monumental long-term investment. By strategically funding both a high-speed highway backbone and a network of community-level chargers, the EV infrastructure bill is methodically laying the groundwork for an electric future. The money is not just buying chargers; it's funding a fundamental transformation of America's transportation landscape, one station at a time.
