The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Joint Office of Energy and Transportation have earmarked more than $43 million to fund 25 electric vehicle (EV) charging and micromobility projects across 23 states. The funding is part of the Communities Taking Charge Accelerator program and focuses on expanding electric mobility options and improving transportation and energy infrastructure.
The initiative targets three main areas: solving no-home charging issues, expanding e-mobility solutions through electrified micro, light, and medium-duty fleets, and improving managed charging to ensure clean and reliable energy. One of the projects, led by the San Francisco Environment Department, aims to set up 10 to 15 charging hubs with two to five chargers each. Other projects will install chargers at multifamily housing complexes, such as a project in Alabama where the local utility company will leverage existing metering and billing processes.
In addition to private vehicle charging, many projects focus on electric micromobility solutions. One example is in Pittsburgh, where a shared electric cargo bike program will help families transport goods, identifying pricing, allocation, and charging strategies to boost ridership. In Boston, the city is electrifying bike-share stations, eliminating the need for battery swapping. “Building on the success of convenient public fast charging along highways, we need to address the real challenges that come with curb space and energy constraints, and a multifamily housing supply that encourages lower rates of car ownership and usage of other modes like shared mobility,” said Gabe Klein, Executive Director of the Joint Office.
The third focus area of the program supports smart charging initiatives. The University of Alabama is working to enable coordinated charging that enhances grid reliability and delays infrastructure updates. Similarly, a smart charging project in Salt Lake City, Utah, will also optimize energy use for charging networks. Klein added, “This investment aims to expand transportation and energy infrastructure to meet the current and anticipated demands—from how people charge and use shared vehicle fleets including e-bikes around transit hubs to a new model for more affordable multifamily housing charging—advancing a more holistic energy and transportation ecosystem.”
Source: driveelectric.gov