USDOT provides $21 million boost to support EV ports in Tennessee

Tennessee will spend $21 million to build 31 electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations that will address gaps in the state’s EV charging grid. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program. The state will install the stations within two years, state officials said.

The NEVI program will provide Tennessee $88 million over Fiscal Years 2022-2026 to install, operate and maintain EV charging stations. To be eligible for funding, the state must place stations along highways the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has designated as Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). AFCs include a national network of major highways that support EV charging, hydrogen, propane and natural gas fueling infrastructure.

The Tennessee awards will go to 10 applicants who will be responsible for managing the fast-charging stations along the state’s AFCs. These corridors include Tennessee’s two-digit interstate routes and U.S. Highway 64.

“Maintaining a clean environment is critical to Tennessee’s continued economic success,” Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner David Salyers said. “We are pleased to join [the] Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) in making the most of this opportunity and we look forward to how it will benefit Tennessee’s environment and its citizens.”

NEVI formula grants require a minimum 20% match of federal funds. Private funding will provide an additional $10 million for this round EV charging network awards. The state must also place EV stations every 50 miles along the designated AFCs within one mile from the corridor and house a minimum of four charging ports.

The federal boost is part of a broader $623 million nationwide push to provide 500,000 publicly available chargers by 2030. Eleven recipients will split $312 million to reinforce the nation’s AFCs.

The awards come from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program. The competitive funding program will help build 7,500 EV charging ports and fund 47 EV charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico.

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