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Like a fish out of water trying to flop its way back to safety, US President Donald Trump has been floundering from one self-made disaster to another. Perhaps a return to his native environment of glitz and ballrooms will soothe his troubled mind. In the meantime, he is faced with the disturbing reality of failure, with the nation’s EV charging station network as Exhibit A.
More EV Charging Stations For The US
To be clear, Trump has achieved some notable, if temporary, successes. For example, thousands of working households lost their jobs after the president almost snuffed out the entire domestic offshore wind industry. And, EV sales fell off a cliff in October after Trump’s Republican allies in Congress passed a new tax bill that eliminated the $7,500 federal EV tax credit as of September 30.
Still, the wind will continue blowing long after Trump leaves office as scheduled on January 20, 2029 — peacefully this time, one hopes. The case for vehicle electrification is also not going anywhere anytime soon. While US automakers are retrenching their EV manufacturing plans for the time being, signs of recovery are also evident in the rapid uptick of EV charging station activity this year.
One newly emerging factor consists of new financial models that make installing new EV charging stations a hassle-free experience for tenant-occupied commercial and residential properties. The overwhelming majority of EV owners prefer the convenience of charging where they live, and now that option is being opened up to millions more prospective EV buyers.
Another factor is the rising competition among quick-serve restaurants, travel centers, and convenience stores seeking to attract EV drivers. The space of EV charging is tailor-made for drivers to stop in for a bite to eat or buy a pack of beef jerky, a keychain with their name on it, or any number of other items.
US States Step Up As US Government Steps Down
State-based EV charging incentives are also continuing to lay the groundwork for an EV sales revival, with Illinois being the most recent one to join the fray. On November 6, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency launched a new $20 million program to install Level 3 and Level 2 public charging stations throughout the state.
The funds are available on a rolling basis starting on November 17 through the “Rebuild Illinois” capital plan for EV projects, authorized under the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.
“Governor Pritzker has prioritized electrification of the transportation sector to improve air quality and benefit the health of our residents,” explained Illinois Acting Director James Jennings. “To support that priority, we are committed to expanding the charging infrastructure necessary to power current and future electric vehicles throughout Illinois.”
In addition to meeting pre-qualification standards, applicants must demonstrate that their location fills a gap in public charging station availability. Sites that serve public transportation networks or Park-and-Ride facilities also score extra points.
“Additional funding will also be awarded to projects at a charging station location in an area identified as an Equity Investment Eligible Community through the EIEC mapping tool,” the Illinois EPA also notes.
Plenty More Where That Came From
The new program in Illinois is just the tip of the EV charging station iceberg. The Electric Vehicle Council branch of the organization Transportation Energy Institute has just published a new white paper that identifies funding opportunities across the US. The EV Council also provides lessons-learned guidance for sorting through the application process.
“For those developing funding programs, the EV Council provides strategic recommendations for streamlining incentive programs and grant application processes, based upon the real-world experiences of those who have participated in such programs,” TEI explains.
NEVI Lives To Charge Another Day
One of the resources TEI identifies is the $5 billion in federal funds earmarked for new public EV fast-charging stations during the Biden administration under the NEVI (National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure) program.
And that’s where things get interesting. Launched in 2022 and funded through the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the NEVI program assigned awards to all 50 states and tasked them with selecting locations that meet the funding criteria. However, some states were reluctant or unprepared to take advantage of the their awards before Biden left office in January.
The issue almost became moot after Trump took office and summarily ordered a halt to the program, but the courts eventually stepped in and ordered the funds to be restored. The EV charging software startup EV Connect is among the stakeholders following the NEVI saga. Their latest report shows that the program has a long way to go but it’s still alive and kicking.
“Progress has been steady but initially slow. As of mid-2025, only 148 chargers are operational across 12 states, with 84% of funds unobligated due to cumbersome regulations,” EV Connect reported on November 6.
Keep an eye out for activity to ramp up in the Southeast, which stakeholders have identified as a hotspot for EV charging stations and EV uptake, too.
EV Drivers Just Can’t Quit EVs
As for that EV uptake, some consumer surveys indicate that sales will eventually recover from the October debacle. “While the end of the EV tax credit will significantly affect EV sales volumes over the next several months, the bottom will not fall out of the EV market,” the firm JD Power reported on November 7.
“The percentage of active new-vehicle shoppers who say they are ‘very likely’ to consider buying or leasing an EV in the next 12 months increased to 24.2% in October, up from 21.6% in September,” the firm added.
JD Power also re-affirmed the well known fact that the TCO (total cost of ownership) for EVs can meet or beat conventional cars. “The number one reason EV owners select an EV over a gasoline-powered vehicle is expected lower running costs,” the firm noted, adding that in 86% of cases, EVs are “delivering on that expectation.”
Most surveys also show that a high percentage of EV drivers will choose another EV the next time they go car shopping. The new JD Power report is consistent with that, too.
“The data suggests that a significant number of current EV owners will be back in the market for a new car within the next year, and the majority of them plan to get another EV,” JD Power notes, citing the 2025 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study. The EVX Study found that that 79% of current owners will definitely consider an EV for their next purchase, and another 15% will probably consider an EV.
“Furthermore, 243,000 franchise EV leases will come to an end in 2026, putting those customers back into the market for a new vehicle,” JD Power adds.
Photo: The first NEVI-funded EV charging station in Texas is located in the town of Happy (courtesy of Joint Office).
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