The US President Donald Trump’s administration has directed states to stop spending money on electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, sparking concerns over the future of the nation’s EV charging network.
In a letter Thursday night, the Trump administration instructed states to halt federal funding for EV chargers, citing “an incredible waste of taxpayer dollars.” However, industry leaders say customer demand will continue to drive growth in the charging network, regardless of federal funding.
The move has significant implications for states that had allocated funds under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula (NEVI) program. While some states have already suspended their programs, others are now facing uncertainty over whether they can proceed with projects and request reimbursement from the federal government.
NEVI was created to fill gaps in the EV charging infrastructure network, particularly in rural areas where it might not be economically viable for private companies to install chargers. The program aims to address concerns about road trips with insufficient charging stations.
Industry leaders predict that demand from drivers will continue to propel companies to build more of these facilities. Bassem Ammouri, chief operating officer at EV Connect, stated, “I think the trend will continue… but it’s going to slow down over the next four years.”
The halt in funding has raised concerns about potential legal battles and delays in critical charging infrastructure, which could impact sales of electric vehicles and put the US auto industry further behind.
As the world shifts towards electric vehicles, experts warn that any slowdown in charging networks could have significant consequences. “As the world is shifting to electric vehicles, any slowdown will put the U.S. auto industry further behind,” said Matt Stephens-Rich, director of programs at Electrification Coalition.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-wants-to-halt-the-buildout-of-ev-charging-stations-experts-say-its-not-so-simple