The Biden-Harris Administration has recently launched a program that will fund the expansion of battery electric vehicle charging stations and alternative fuel infrastructure in the United States. The program, known as the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program, is worth $2.5 billion and falls under the U.S. Department of Transportation. The program was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The CFI Discretionary Grant Program will finance the installation of electric vehicle chargers and alternative fuel infrastructure on public roads, highways, interstates, major roadways, parking lots, public schools, public parks, and other publicly accessible locations. It will provide $2.5 billion over the next five years to eligible applicants such as cities, counties, local governments, and Tribes.
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The grant program is split into two categories: the Community Program and the Corridor Program. According to the law, the CFI Program must provide 50% of the funding to each category over the next five years. For the first round of applications, the Administration has provided $1.25 billion to each category.
The Community Program is open to applicants who seek to install EV charging, hydrogen, propane, or natural gas fueling stations on public roads or publicly accessible locations. Meanwhile, the Corridor Program is open to applicants who seek to install EV charging, hydrogen, propane, or natural gas fueling stations along the designated alternative fuel corridors (AFCs).
Applications for the CFI Program will be accepted until May 30, 2023. To determine eligibility, interested parties can visit the CFI Program’s Notice of Funding Opportunity.
The program is an essential component of President Biden’s goal to expand the national charging network to 500,000 EV stations. Last month, President Biden acknowledged Tesla’s significant contribution to the United States’ national charging network.
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U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated, “By helping bring EV charging to communities across the country, this Administration is modernizing our infrastructure and creating good jobs in the process. With today’s announcement, we are taking another big step forward in creating an EV future that is convenient, affordable, reliable, and accessible to all Americans.”
The CFI Discretionary Grant Program complements the Administration’s $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula program, which funds the installation of EV chargers and alternative fuel stations across specific Interstates, U.S. routes, and state highways. The CFI Discretionary Grant Fund aims to fill in gaps that the NEVI Formula Program might not support financially.
