The Biden-Harris Administration opened applications for a new multi-billion-dollar program to fund electric vehicle (EV) charging and alternative-fuelling infrastructure in communities along designated highways, interstates, and major roadways across America.

The first round of funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Charging and Fuelling Infrastructure program is expected to help ensure America’s zero-emission vehicle future.

This round makes up to $700 million available to strategically deploy EV charging and other alternative vehicle-fueling infrastructure projects in publicly accessible locations. The U.S. Department of Transportation will provide $2.5 billion over five years.

The move is aimed at building a national network of 500,000 public EV charging stations and reducing national greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% by 2030.

The CFI Discretionary Grant Program builds on the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.

EV chargers must adhere to basic standards, such as a requirement that supports a consistent charging experience for users and ensures that the national charging network is convenient, reliable, and “Made in America.”

“Extending EV charging infrastructure into traditionally underserved areas will ensure that equitable and widespread EV adoption takes hold,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm.

Ensuring that charging stations are more visible and accessible in the communities will also address the concerns many American drivers have when they are considering making the switch to electric, Granholm added.

A priority of the program is bringing EV charging into urban and rural communities, particularly in underserved and disadvantaged communities.

The program is further divided into two components. The Community Program will provide $1.25 billion to strategically deploy publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure and hydrogen, propane, or natural gas fueling infrastructure in communities.

Infrastructure may be located on any public road or in other publicly accessible locations, such as parking facilities at public buildings, public schools, and public parks, or in publicly accessible parking facilities owned or managed by a private entity.

The Corridor Program will provide $1.25 billion to strategically deploy publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure and hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling infrastructure along designated alternative fuel corridors.

Eligible applicants and projects for both categories are outlined in a Notice of Funding Opportunity. Applications are due by May 30, 2023.

Projects that address environmental justice, particularly for communities such as rural and low- and moderate-income neighbourhoods that may disproportionately experience the consequences of climate change and other pollutants, will be funded primarily.

The U.S. administration’s Department of Energy announced $2.5 billion in funding for two carbon management programs to significantly mitigate the carbon emissions from power generation and hard-to-abate industrial operations.

Total investment in electric vehicle chargers is set to cross $100 billion in 2023, and the next $100 billion of spending is expected to be achieved within the next three years, a BloombergNEF study has found.