USDOT Stops National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure - Truck Stop Associations React
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, which was authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in 2021, has been suspended as of February 6, 2025. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under the current administration halted and rescinded all previous NEVI guidance, effectively pausing the program nationwide.
The suspension comes as a response to a broader review of NEVI policies by the Department of Transportation. New guidelines are expected after a public comment period in the spring.
The NEVI Formula Program was designed to allocate $5 billion to states for EV charging infrastructure, with funding apportioned by statute. However, the program has faced mixed success, with some states successfully catalyzing the installation of fast, state-of-the-art EV chargers at existing fueling locations, while others have poorly executed the program, leaving chargers unbuilt or placed in locations where drivers have little interest in stopping.
David Fialkov, Executive Vice President of Government Affairs for both NATSO and SIGMA, two major fuel industry groups, acknowledged the mixed success of the NEVI program. Fialkov emphasized that his organizations intend to share their experience to preserve what has worked while reconsidering approaches that have proven ineffective.
States like Idaho have been forced to halt all NEVI-related work and await new guidance for revised state plans. The Trump administration has expressed intent to provide new, more flexible guidance, potentially terminating or significantly reshaping the NEVI program.
Reimbursements for previously committed funds will continue to prevent disruptions to ongoing financial commitments. A public comment period on the revised guidelines is expected to begin in the spring.
As of mid-2025, there is no new Biden-era guidance officially released for the NEVI Formula Program. The administration’s priorities have shifted towards more flexible, less climate-focused infrastructure funding, with new guidance and state plan approval processes forthcoming in the future.
Therefore, there is currently no active comment period or finalized new guidance under the Biden administration; rather, the program has been paused and will be subject to redesign under the subsequent administration's authority.
[1] [Link to source 1] [2] [Link to source 2] [3] [Link to source 3] [4] [Link to source 4] [5] [Link to source 5]
- The suspension of the NEVI Formula Program has led to uncertainty in the energy and technology sectors, particularly for businesses involved in EV manufacturing and infrastructure.
- The pause in the NEVI program has significant implications for finance and policy-and-legislation, as billions of dollars of potential investment in EV charging infrastructure hang in the balance.
- Politics has played a key role in the suspension and potential redesign of the NEVI program, with both the Trump and Biden administrations expressing differing views on the program's direction.
- General news outlets are closely monitoring the developments surrounding the NEVI Formula Program, as the program's future could have long-lasting effects on the transportation industry and the transition to clean energy solutions.
