As Ford Authority previously reported, President Donald Trump and his administration have been working to end the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program created by his predecessor, Joe Biden, which aimed to spend $5 billion on the installation of new EV chargers across the U.S., as the Department of Transportation (DOT) ordered states to halt that process as a result. However, that move was temporarily blocked by a judge this past June, and now, the federal EV charger program has been revived, after all.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has unveiled a plan to continue the NEVI program that’s designed to simply and improve the process of adding new EV charger infrastructure across the country, given the fact that 84 percent of the funds allocated for the program are still unobligated. Much of the criticism surrounding the NEVI program pertains to the fact that few EV charger units have been installed thus far, which is what Duffy is aiming to rectify.
“If Congress is requiring the federal government to support charging stations, let’s cut the waste and do it right,” Duffy said. “The Biden-Buttigieg Administration failed to deliver EV chargers despite their promises. Our revised NEVI guidance slashes red tape and makes it easier for states to efficiently build out this infrastructure. While I don’t agree with subsidizing green energy, we will respect Congress’ will and make sure this program uses federal resources efficiently.”
A lack of EV charging infrastructure has long been cited as one of the major obstacles standing in the way of mass electric vehicle adoption, and is frequently one of the top reasons why new car shoppers avoid purchasing an EV. Regardless, despite this reversal, the Trump administration is working to end other federal programs that aim to subsidize that particular segment – including the federal EV tax credit, which is now set to end at the conclusion of September.
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