Feds Halt the National Electric Vehicle Charging Program(wired.com)
wired.com
Feds Halt the National Electric Vehicle Charging Program
https://www.wired.com/story/feds-halt-national-electric-vehicle-charging-program/
103 comments
What would you expect? The funding has been available for ~2 years, and it takes about 2 years to plan & build & connect EV stations. The vast majority of those stations are still in progress.
Looking at the Q4 2024 update, 9 states haven't even put out solicitations for EV installations yet, and 8 plus Peurto Rico just handed out their first money in Q4 2024. Those stations would be expected to come online in 2026.
Of course that now won't happen, the cancellation ensures the money will have been wasted.
https://driveelectric.gov/news/q4-2024-nevi-quarterly-update
Looking at the Q4 2024 update, 9 states haven't even put out solicitations for EV installations yet, and 8 plus Peurto Rico just handed out their first money in Q4 2024. Those stations would be expected to come online in 2026.
Of course that now won't happen, the cancellation ensures the money will have been wasted.
https://driveelectric.gov/news/q4-2024-nevi-quarterly-update
I'd suspect that if it takes 2 years to plan and build and connect EV stations, that's a problem, and we should review what's causing it to happen so slowly.
It took us 2 years to add bog standard expansions to our factory, and we had amazing people who were trained efficiency engineers hand holding every hiccup.
It took 6 months for the power upgrade portion to happen after we submitted it to the power company (no government involvement at play).
It took 6 months for the power upgrade portion to happen after we submitted it to the power company (no government involvement at play).
Infrastructure always takes a long time to plan and build out. Even just the permitting for new EV chargers takes time to get.
Maybe the problem is that the government funding is unreliable, the rules keep changing and progress keeps getting interrupted.
Megawatt sized grid connections do not happen quickly.
Why can't this work continue while that review happens, and then simply accelerate once the roadblocks are removed?
The standards came out in March 2023. Project proposals were drawn up not just for individual sites and charging hardware but for whole corridors and networks and lots of related infrastructure. Many were submitted in 2024 and got approval. Funds were starting to get disbursed for approved projects. Those projects are at various stages of construction with a few being completed.
Once again, it's not just the plans to build and connect individual EV stations. If you already have a place to put it and the electricity capacity available that part shouldn't take more than a few months. This wasn't about just anyone wanting to install a charger submit a quick proposal and get grant money. It was to make a coordinated system of chargers along with all the other related infrastructure to support them. To ensure chargers got installed in the places where its more complicated to get them deployed, and ensure they were deployed with reliable hardware and plenty of support infrastructure.
Once again, it's not just the plans to build and connect individual EV stations. If you already have a place to put it and the electricity capacity available that part shouldn't take more than a few months. This wasn't about just anyone wanting to install a charger submit a quick proposal and get grant money. It was to make a coordinated system of chargers along with all the other related infrastructure to support them. To ensure chargers got installed in the places where its more complicated to get them deployed, and ensure they were deployed with reliable hardware and plenty of support infrastructure.
Sorry but have you ever worked on a large scale project? There are numerous things to address, from placement, to design, to hiring, to scheduling - all before construction can even begin. When taking how Republicans keep trying to dismantle programs as they are being built it's a miracle even that many stations have come to fruition so far.
Agreed.
It was two years ago that the standards were released. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/02/28/2023-03...
The product development lifecycle for big, well integrated, software-complex infrastructure hardware I would assume is not short. Actual roll out would likely tail that significantly.
By comparison to some of the other actions afoot now, this doesn't feel like the worst. But it sure feels like it's in the same category of absolutely foolhardy, spiteful, and harmful Deconstruction & smashing of the State.
It was two years ago that the standards were released. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/02/28/2023-03...
The product development lifecycle for big, well integrated, software-complex infrastructure hardware I would assume is not short. Actual roll out would likely tail that significantly.
By comparison to some of the other actions afoot now, this doesn't feel like the worst. But it sure feels like it's in the same category of absolutely foolhardy, spiteful, and harmful Deconstruction & smashing of the State.
> That's with over $1.5B spent already, according to https://driveelectric.gov/state-plans
No, that money hasn't been spent yet. The money has been __allocated__ but it's taken a very long time for states to come up with and get plans passed locally at which point only then would the money be spent.
No, that money hasn't been spent yet. The money has been __allocated__ but it's taken a very long time for states to come up with and get plans passed locally at which point only then would the money be spent.
If any of this is true that's like ~$50M per charging station.
I would be really curious how much commercial ones cost.
Likely the government figures are inflated by lots of waste and consultants making huge money.
I would be really curious how much commercial ones cost.
Likely the government figures are inflated by lots of waste and consultants making huge money.
The 1.5B spent is misinformation.
The money has been _allocated_ but it hasn't been _spent_ yet and that's because it's taken a very long time for _States_ to come up with proposals that can be funded.
It's just taken much too long to happen, but that's at the state level (the Fed Gov is allocating the money but the States are managing it).
The money has been _allocated_ but it hasn't been _spent_ yet and that's because it's taken a very long time for _States_ to come up with proposals that can be funded.
It's just taken much too long to happen, but that's at the state level (the Fed Gov is allocating the money but the States are managing it).
I suspect the money is going out before the charging stations are being built - but if it's taking 3 years to build them, that's kind of a problem in its own right.
I don't mind the government spending money to do stuff, but spending money to not do stuff feels bad.
I don't mind the government spending money to do stuff, but spending money to not do stuff feels bad.
It is not three years to build them. It's not like the initial plan got created in 2022 and then it's time to grab shovels, pull cables, and pour concrete. There is a lot of planning required for states to create corridors and what not. Most of the projects only got approved in the last year or so. Several states only just got their proposals submitted.
Most of the money spent so far was only spent in this last year.
Most of the money spent so far was only spent in this last year.
There are allocated funds that will be expanding the network pretty hardcore this year.. unfortunately now after that it will dwindle but between this and next year I'd expect to see a fair amount of NEVI stations as states implement their plans.
No surprise with this. Again 4C here we come. The young people should be out protesting daily, but they are probably to busy paying off loans that are burying them.
I feel for the youth and wish I could have done more when I was young.
I feel for the youth and wish I could have done more when I was young.
> Again 4C here we come.
There is a plan for that, take more land up north, e.g. Canada and Greenland.
There is a plan for that, take more land up north, e.g. Canada and Greenland.
I actually think this is a plan to get rare earth resources.
I also think that it is an obviously extreme position that then will then obviously fail, but then the United States will fall back to "Canada and Greenland can only sell rare earth rights to the United States" to lock China out.
I also think that it is an obviously extreme position that then will then obviously fail, but then the United States will fall back to "Canada and Greenland can only sell rare earth rights to the United States" to lock China out.
I heard that Trump is refashioning the CIA to focus on the West, which could be understood as including a focus Canada. I can sort of imagine the turbulence we may start to see in Canada's political realm as a result of such shift of the CIA's priorities and operations to Canada in the service of achieving Trump's goals:
> "His aide said Trump’s CIA will have a greater focus on the western hemisphere, targeting countries not traditionally considered adversaries of the US, according to the Journal."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/05/cia-reported...
> "His aide said Trump’s CIA will have a greater focus on the western hemisphere, targeting countries not traditionally considered adversaries of the US, according to the Journal."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/05/cia-reported...
He has sold us out to Russia and this tracks with that.
Ahhh
So now I see why we’re demanding Greenland!
I guess that’s just planning ahead.
/s
So now I see why we’re demanding Greenland!
I guess that’s just planning ahead.
/s
Here is a strategy doc from a reputable org that explicitly states that climate change is one of the causes of an increased view of Greenland as a strategic asset: https://www.belfercenter.org/research-analysis/explainer-geo...
This sounds more like a monopoly play to give Tesla a continuing advantage with it's charging network vs. an anti-EV stance.
I'm of the opinion that youth protests (of any kind) for niche complaints (basically anything that your normie voter can't really get behind) only strengthens the executive. Protests are a great way to hook up and feel good, but I don't believe it moves the needle. Trump loves protests.
No one knows what the NEVCP is/or does. When Trump threatens Social Security payments (which he won't), then the People will rise up. In the meantime, enjoy the time off from work/school, the spring weather is lovely.
No one knows what the NEVCP is/or does. When Trump threatens Social Security payments (which he won't), then the People will rise up. In the meantime, enjoy the time off from work/school, the spring weather is lovely.
I have time to protest but I don't really see the point right now. I participated in the largest protests I've ever seen in 2017 and they accomplished nothing. Everybody with the power to do something about this at the moment blatantly does not give a shit and has already said so publicly.
Organize your colleagues. Labor has more power than general public protestors
I work for a small company trying to reduce emissions so none of my colleagues need convincing. I am still organizing action on climate change outside of work, I just don't feel particularly hopeful about it right now.
You mean “labor” where many support Trump and voted for him?
ta8645(6)
Is this the program that was started in 2022, supposedly to last 5 years, and has hardly built anything?
This seems like slow progress.
> The Federal Highway Administration said 37 electric vehicle charging stations have been completed with funds from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
> This claim likely comes from a March Washington Post article about the electric vehicle charging program’s slow rollout. But 30 more stations have been completed since the Post’s article
This seems like slow progress.
> The Federal Highway Administration said 37 electric vehicle charging stations have been completed with funds from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
> This claim likely comes from a March Washington Post article about the electric vehicle charging program’s slow rollout. But 30 more stations have been completed since the Post’s article
We didn't have any standards before. Standards were made in 2023. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/02/28/2023-03...
Now products have to be developed that are compliant. That's not going to be fast!
And then chargers have to get installed.
I'm surprised as many are installed as there have been. Nice work teams.
Now products have to be developed that are compliant. That's not going to be fast!
And then chargers have to get installed.
I'm surprised as many are installed as there have been. Nice work teams.
This year states will begin implementing their submitted plans with the disbursed funds.
I'm hoping voters actually see that both parties are not the same and that the average American stops voting against their own interest.
I know 2 voted who voted for the current president and both are in trouble because of him.
One owns section 8 housing, if feds stop the funding it will bankrupt him.
I know 2 voted who voted for the current president and both are in trouble because of him.
One owns section 8 housing, if feds stop the funding it will bankrupt him.
They deserve everything that happens to them
Who will cry after one less landlord exploiting tenants and tax payers?
So they should be homeless?
They should get a real job
Maybe they should “learn to code”? I heard that software developers are having a real easy time getting high paying jobs these days…
Hehe
A shameless example of how the new admin benefits Elon -- given that Tesla's charging network has been his biggest moat vs other EV companies.
It's Russian-style oligarchs in bed with the government to benefit themselves.
Sure, there has been lobbying (aka corruption) all along. But this takes it to a whole new level.
It's Russian-style oligarchs in bed with the government to benefit themselves.
Sure, there has been lobbying (aka corruption) all along. But this takes it to a whole new level.
Interesting.. my first reaction on the title was "wait, won't it hurt musk who is trumps friend now"?
It definitely benefits Elon because it hurts his competitors, who are just getting into the game and trying to catch up.
It's a mixed bag. Tesla's charging network is a pretty big revenue center but it could hurt car sales (along with going so hard for the American right which is souring the brand image with the groups of people actually buying electric cars).
It certainly takes away some control from him, when there is an independent charging network.
This article claims exactly that:
https://electrek.co/2025/02/06/trump-just-canceled-the-feder...
https://electrek.co/2025/02/06/trump-just-canceled-the-feder...
No worries, the administration has said that Musk is in charge of deciding what to do about his conflicts of interest.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-05/white-hou...
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-05/white-hou...
Thanks! I feel much better now.
Nothing makes me more angry with Trump/Elon/GOP than measures that take us backward in terms of fighting climate change. It's the future of our children and grandchildren, and their children, that we're talking about -- they are going to bear the consequences, and we know the consequences will be severe! It's not about beliefs or political leanings, it's just science. I can handle most of the rest of the DOGE stupidity, but this is the one that makes my blood boil.
There are also more immediate problems. Think about this: we are on the cusp of the bird flu epidemic, and he nominated an antivaxxer for secretary of health and human services.
True. Interestingly, RFK is the one Trump nominee that I have the least problems with because I agree very strongly with him on big food corps pushing unhealthy garbage on society -- there seems to be very little political will to solve the problem of unhealthy food especially by those who can't afford healthy food (which is expensive!). And then we wonder why we're so unhealthy as a society.
Like the EV charging stations, this EO will have zero impact on climate change.
that's completely false
So stupid. We are going to get run over by the Chinese, Europeans, and probably everyone else in this space just so Trump can reward some idiots in Texas who want to pump CO2 for three more years.
It's gonna be a long two years
It’s a four year term. I wouldn’t count on mid-terms saving you. Vast majority of the seats up for election at midterm will be in safe districts. (Yayyy gerrymandering!)
No sense in buyer’s remorse at this point. We just have to find some way to make the best of the situation.
We do need some changes though. Consider this, the allotted pres-vice pres pairings were the best the current system could come up with. So changes should really be made, so that in the future we encourage more competence in candidates for office here in the US.
Of course, now I think about it more fully, office holders would have to make those changes. So I guess I wouldn’t count on that happening either.
Sigh.
No sense in buyer’s remorse at this point. We just have to find some way to make the best of the situation.
We do need some changes though. Consider this, the allotted pres-vice pres pairings were the best the current system could come up with. So changes should really be made, so that in the future we encourage more competence in candidates for office here in the US.
Of course, now I think about it more fully, office holders would have to make those changes. So I guess I wouldn’t count on that happening either.
Sigh.
Or maybe have a Democratic "nominee" who actually gets nominated?
[deleted]
Even a Democratic majority in Congress will not help, these people have already demonstrated they do not care about Congress. The only thing that would help is a large enough majority to impeach and remove the president, which is obviously not going to happen.
These federally funded programs are corrupt. Let the free market build these electric vehicle chargers if people want them. Do not force me to participate in your political desires by taking my money at gunpoint.
We should let the free market build all the roads as well. People will pay private corporations for the highways if they really want them. Do not force me to participate in your political desires for your roads by taking my money at gunpoint.
Do gas stations require subsidies?
These chargers don't necessarily require subsidies to exist. The subsidies are to jump start and accelerate their development along strategic corridors.
But yes, gasoline production and distribution gets a lot of subsidies.
https://www.rd.usda.gov/hbiip
Do roads require subsidies to exist? Won't the free market just build all the roads people demand? Do you support the corruption of the government taking MY money at GUNPOINT to build YOUR roads? Or maybe there's a point in building out infrastructure that isn't directly and immediately profitable.
But yes, gasoline production and distribution gets a lot of subsidies.
https://www.rd.usda.gov/hbiip
Do roads require subsidies to exist? Won't the free market just build all the roads people demand? Do you support the corruption of the government taking MY money at GUNPOINT to build YOUR roads? Or maybe there's a point in building out infrastructure that isn't directly and immediately profitable.
Your link is to the production of ethanol (and biodiesel) not gasoline, which is mandated by the government to be mixed in with gasoline. No one in the gasoline industry actually wants this mandate.
Turn off Fox News man. You are being sold this story so that billionaires can cut them or privatize them (aka steal the money from them or direct it towards their companies).
My wife works for the government and she can't even get a cup of free coffee from the government because it is considered a private benefit that doesn't work towards their mission.
My wife works for the government and she can't even get a cup of free coffee from the government because it is considered a private benefit that doesn't work towards their mission.
There is no such thing as a free market, especially in the US.
The free market is like trickle down economics: something oligarchs make fools believe in so those fools don't notice they're being robbed.
As long as you think the big bad guvmit is worse than the billionaires robbing us then you'll eagerly sign up to be robbed.
The free market is like trickle down economics: something oligarchs make fools believe in so those fools don't notice they're being robbed.
As long as you think the big bad guvmit is worse than the billionaires robbing us then you'll eagerly sign up to be robbed.
Read less Reddit.
When was the last time Bezos or Gates or Buffett held a gun to your head and said give me your money? We have no choice but to give the government any amount of money it wants even if the services it provides are negative.
People freely choose to pay other folks for goods and services, and if those folks offer a truly game changing experience, sometimes they become billionaires.
When was the last time Bezos or Gates or Buffett held a gun to your head and said give me your money? We have no choice but to give the government any amount of money it wants even if the services it provides are negative.
People freely choose to pay other folks for goods and services, and if those folks offer a truly game changing experience, sometimes they become billionaires.
Wow what an ignorant take.
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/nevi/resources/state-pl...
It looks like it's being suspended while new guidelines are are produced.
To me, this makes sense. The program produced "more than 30" EV charging stations, which doesn't seem like a ton given that they've had 3+ years to do it. That's with over $1.5B spent already, according to https://driveelectric.gov/state-plans
I think it's reasonable to reform a program that's dramatically failing to meet its goal.