The Federal Highway Administration has unveiled a second notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for electric vehicle or EV charging and alternative fuel vehicle or AFV infrastructure projects along designated highways, interstates, and major roadways. 

[Above photo by FHWA]

This new $1.3 billion opportunity is comprised of funds from the $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure or CFI discretionary grant program – activated in March 2023 – and a 10 percent set-aside from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure or NEVI formula program, launched in February 2022.

Together, FHWA said those programs are actively deploying EV chargers and AFV refueling sites across the country. Eligible entities for funding from those two programs include states, metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, port authorities, Native American tribes, U.S. territories, and more.

Photo by FHWA

The agency added that this funding opportunity offers up to $800 million in funding for newly submitted applications and reserves an additional $521 million for previously received applications, for a total of $1.3 billion available. FHWA said new applications for round two funds are due by August 28, with notices requesting reconsideration of past applications due by July 1.

The agency added that it plans to conduct outreach to potential grant applicants regarding the CFI program via webinars and will provide direct technical assistance to support states and communities as they build EV projects with CFI funds.

Webinars to share information about the NOFO will be held on the following dates:

  • Webinar 1 – CFI Grant NOFO Overview: Thursday, June 6, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET – Click here to register.
  • Webinar 2 – CFI NOFO Overview: Reconsideration of Round 1 Applications: Tuesday, June 11, from 1:00 to 1:30 pm ET – Click here to register.

State departments of transportation in particular have been working to construct EV recharging stations with CFI and NEVI funds over the last several years. Those efforts include:

  • The California Department of Transportation – known as Caltrans – received some $63.7 million from FHWA to fix and install more than 1,000 chargers at 300 sites statewide.
  • The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation plans to repair or replace dozens of existing EV charging sites using a $5 million federal award. The agency also oversaw the completion and opening of Pennsylvania’s first federally-funded EV charging station in late December 2023.
  • The Utah Department of Transportation announced plans in December 2023 to double the state’s current fast charging capacity for electric vehicles by the end of 2024 with the addition of 15 new sites funded through the NEVI Formula Program.
  • The Ohio Department of Transportation also opened its very first NEVI-funded EV charging locale for operation in December 2023.
  • The New York State Department of Transportation is getting $13 million from FHWA to enhance the reliability of EV charging ports across the state.
  • The Arizona Department of Transportation began seeking bids from private entities in January to build or upgrade EV charging stations along several interstate highways.
  • The Oregon Department of Transportation is spending $1.75 million to help companies, schools, apartment building owners, small towns, and other groups build 370 new public Level 2 electric vehicle or EV charging ports in rural and disadvantaged areas.
  • The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet broke ground on the first NEVI-funded EV fast charging station in the southeastern United States in February. The agency is currently seeking proposals to install up to 16 additional stations along interstates and parkways statewide using NEVI funding – all part of Kentucky’s longer-term effort to add up to 40 new fast charging stations by 2025.
  • The Illinois Department of Transportation began providing up to $50 million in NEVI funds for the construction of 46 EV charging stations statewide in March.
  • Also in March, the Virginia Department of Transportation allocated $11.3 million in NEVI funding to assist in the statewide construction of EV charging stations.
  • In April, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation awarded more than $8 million in federal funds to Love’s Travel Stops, Francis Energy LLC, and Tesla Inc. to build 13 charging stations along Oklahoma interstates.