Biden Administration Announces $623 Million in Funding to Build Up EV and Hydrogen Infrastructure

The funding will support projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico

written by Kristin Shaw^{Contributor
Kristin Shaw has worked in the automotive industry as a freelance writer since 2012. Her first review was about a Ferrari F430, which is a great place to start for a lifelong enthusiast. She has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the past decade, and some of her favorites include the C2 and C8 Corvette, Lamborghini Aventador S, BMW X5 and Toyota GR86. Her dream car is a restomod 1957 Chevy Bel Air in turquoise. She's competing in her first Rebelle Rally, an all-female off-roading competition, in the fall of 2022 in a lifted Hyundai Santa Cruz. Her work has also been seen in The Drive, AutoWise, GearJunkie, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes Wheels, Today, The Washington Post and more.}
1/12/2024
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The Biden administration awarded $623 million in grant money for EV charging and alternative fueling stations.
70% of the funding is earmarked for disadvantaged communities to shore up access to EV charging.
Within the overall funding, $70 million is going to Texas to build a hydrogen corridor to Southern California.

There are a number of reasons why you might not consider an electric vehicle for your next purchase, but the Biden administration is looking to curb one of the most significant barriers to adoption: a charging infrastructure that is scattered and not always reliable. The government announced Thursday that $625 million in grants will be set aside to fund the construction of 500,000 chargers by 2030, giving EV drivers a better chance of connecting the dots from point to point across the country. Last year, the Department of Energy estimated there were just above 140,000 public charging points in service by the end of the first quarter of 2023.

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EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work ^{This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.}
If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station ^{With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.}
Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more ^{If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.}

“Under President Biden’s leadership, EV sales have more than quadrupled, the number of publicly available charging ports has grown by nearly 70 percent, and more than 4 million EVs are now on the road,” said the Department of Transportation.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program is funding the grants, which will cover 47 EV charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico. Also included in the $2.5 billion is $311 million awarded by the Federal Highway Administration to 36 projects. Two of those will go to tribes in Alaska and Arizona.

Another key metric is the $70 million headed for the North Central Texas Council of Governments. There's a heavy transport corridor between Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Dallas-Fort Worth; this funding is earmarked to build five hydrogen fueling stations to streamline hydrogen-powered trucks coming to and from Southern California.

Overall, more than 70% of the funding announced will support projects in disadvantaged communities, where EV chargers are often difficult to find. For example, $10 million is going to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to build EV charging stations at multi-family housing in disadvantaged and rural communities.

Another $1.4 million was awarded to the Chilkoot Indian Association in Haines, Alaska, where no public EV charging stations are available. Building more infrastructure could boost opportunities for drivers who want EVs but don’t have a private garage, the administration hopes.

Edmunds says

Unspoken but still relevant is the question of whether EV charging companies can do a better job of maintaining and improving uptime for existing and new ports.

by Kristin Shaw

Kristin Shaw has worked in the automotive industry as a freelance writer since 2012. Her first review was about a Ferrari F430, which is a great place to start for a lifelong enthusiast. She has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the past decade, and some of her favorites include the C2 and C8 Corvette, Lamborghini Aventador S, BMW X5 and Toyota GR86. Her dream car is a restomod 1957 Chevy Bel Air in turquoise. She's competing in her first Rebelle Rally, an all-female off-roading competition, in the fall of 2022 in a lifted Hyundai Santa Cruz. Her work has also been seen in The Drive, AutoWise, GearJunkie, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes Wheels, Today, The Washington Post and more.