New EV Charging Schemes Thwart Trump NEVI Squeeze

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To the surprise of no one, President Trump has frozen a $5 billion federal program aimed at installing new public EV fast charging stations in all 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The freeze comes a day late and a dollar short, as the majority of the funds have already been awarded. Besides, plenty of other EV charging station plans are already in the works through other channels.

The NEVI EV Charging Station Program Screeches To A Halt

NEVI stands for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program. Funded with a total of $7.5 billion carved out of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, NEVI tasks all 50 states, red and blue alike, plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico to help establish a coordinated, strategically located network of public EV fast charging stations.

As with Trump’s other orders disrupting if not permanently destroying federal programs, the NEVI freeze probably won’t hold up in court. Still, the damage is done. The midstream halt doesn’t just stop the flow of NEVI funds, it also jeopardizes millions in state and private investments.

“As of July 2024, 39 states have released solicitations for their NEVI programs and eight states have opened their first NEVI-funded stations (61 ports in total), which have already powered thousands of charging sessions for EV drivers across America,” reads a progress report on the program issued before President Biden left office.

“Additional stations are in the pipeline with more than 2,500 additional ports having been awarded or conditionally awarded by the states,” the report continues.

What’s Next For EV Charging In The US?

Throwing NEVI into the chopper hurts investors, workers, and taxpayers, but it doesn’t put a stop to EV charging activity in the US. Leading stakeholders like Electrify America are still in the mix, along with new players. Earlier this month, for example, the IONNA EV charging joint venture unveiled plans to burst out of beta mode and go national with its driver-centered “Rechargery” charging station model.

IONNA combines the forces of BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Toyota. The joint venture has been surfacing regularly on the CleanTechnica radar while they put the finishing touches on the Rechargery model, which treats drivers to a lounge-style experience while they’re waiting to fill up.

In the latest development, on February 4, IONNA announced that it has contracted for more than 100 EV charging station sites across the US, and that it aims to bring 1,000 more charging bays online before the end of this year. That’s just for starters.

“This effort is more than just deploying infrastructure; it is a substantial investment in American jobs and manufacturing. Each of the 30,000 Charging Bays built over the next 5 years representing new jobs across the nation, cutting-edge technological innovation, and a vision to open America’s roads to driver choice,” IONNA explains.

The Rechargery Difference

Earlier this week, CleanTechnica reporter Jennifer Sensiba described how the IONNA EV charging station plan is opening up more weekend adventures and road trip opportunities for EV drivers. She cites the example of Willcox, Arizona, a town near Chiricahua National Monument and the Chiricahua Mountains. Previously underserved, the town will get an IONNA charging station with 6 CCS plugs and 4 NACS plugs.

IONNA aims to beat Tesla at its own game by making the charging experience seamless across all automakers, including reservations, route optimization, and in-car payments among other features.

The modern, airport lounge styling of an IONNA charging station is also an aesthetic step up from typical gas station convenience stores and food courts. For added functionality, Rechargeries will also feature an AI-assisted, automated grab-and-go payment system for snacks and refreshments. The first one will be installed at a Rechargery in Garner, North Carolina, so check it out if you’re in the neighborhood.

One Way Or Another, More EV Charging Stations Are Coming

Green banks are emerging as another source of financing for new public EV charging stations. Green banks focus on green investing, as the name suggests. In past years, they did not focus particular attention on EV charging stations. However, a change is in the air. Earlier this week, the New York Green Bank announced its first-ever EV charging station transaction, enabling the firm Revel to install 267 charging ports spread among five public locations by 2027.

Utilities are also getting into the act. Earlier this week, the Illinois utility ComEd announced a $100 million rebate program for home EV chargers, along with EV rebates for business and commercial fleets, and rebates to support upgrades needed to install charging stations for non-residential ratepayers.

More EV Chargers For Residential Properties

For all the noise over public EV charging, surveys show that most EV drivers prefer to charge at home if they can. Ford is hopping on that opportunity. Last year the company began offering free home charging stations, including installation, to purchasers of its EVs. Apparently the program was a success in terms of EV sales.

“Following record Ford electric vehicle YOY sales in 2024, Ford is extending the Ford Power Promise complimentary home charger and standard installation through March 31, 2025,” Ford announced on January 3.

In contrast to single-family homes, the rental housing market has been a tough nut to crack. Landlords generally don’t want to invest in EV chargers, property managers don’t want the hassle, and tenants can’t or won’t install them at their own expense. Now some enterprising cleantech startups have figured out a workaround, by offering turnkey, soup-to-nuts charging services that involve no upfront costs and no hassle for property owners and managers.

Fleet Electrification Is Still A Thing

Keep an eye out for charging station activity in the fleet electrification movement as well. On February 12, the Texas-based firm CLEAResult announced the launch of its new “ChooseEV” assessment tool, aimed at helping utilities help fleet owners make the transition to EVs.

“Utilities are fielding a fast-growing number of inquiries from fleet customers looking to electrify their operations, but navigating the options and selecting the best fit can be complex and time consuming,” explains CLEAResult Chief Product & Technology Officer Divakar Jandhyala.

CLEAResult is no small potatoes. The company launched in 2003 and bills itself as “North America’s largest energy efficiency, energy transition and energy sustainability services provider,” with 2,700 employees stationed in 60 US and Canadian cities.

Photo: The Trump freeze on NEVI funding for new EV charging stations can’t stop the inevitable from happening as other public and private sector stakeholders continue to step up (courtesy of IONNA).