USDOT provides $63.7 million jolt to support EV ports in California

California will spend $63.7 million to improve the state’s electric vehicle (EV) charging grid reliability by fixing and installing 1,302 charging ports. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator (EVC RAA) program.

The EVC RAA program will provide $100 million to repair or replace non-operational, publicly accessible EV chargers. The initiative is supported by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, which aims to create an interconnected EV charging network nationwide.

“This funding will allow California to continue to lead the nation in zero-emission-vehicle adoption, increasing reliability and cutting planet-warming pollution,” California State Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said in a release. California leads the nation in public charging ports, accounting for 43,481 of 162,242 EV stations, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

The state will use the funds to replace both Level 2 and Direct Current fast chargers (DCFC). Level 2 charging equipment provides a 240-volt outlet that can charge a battery electric vehicle (BEV) from empty to 80% in four to 10 hours. DCFC equipment can charge a BEV to 80% in under an hour and is used for rapid charging along high-traffic corridors.

USDOT announced the awards in January 2024. California received the largest amount from the available $148.8 million out of a combined 14 state transportation agencies and 10 local entities. Spanning 20 states, the grants will help repair approximately 4,471 EV ports. Other big awards to state transportation agencies include New York, Washington State and Oregon, receiving grants of $13 million, $10.1 million and $10 million respectively.

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