The Biden administration announced on Tuesday the allocation of $521 million in grants aimed at expanding the electric vehicle (EV) charging network across the
United States. This funding will support the installation of more than 9,200 new EV charging ports.
Of the total amount, $321 million will be directed toward 41 community-based projects that aim to enhance EV charging infrastructure in various locations. Additionally, $200 million will be allocated to fund 10 corridor fast-charging projects, which are designed to facilitate long-distance travel by ensuring chargers are available at regular intervals.
Among the notable projects, Milwaukee will receive $15 million to install EV chargers at 53 sites, while Atlanta is set to receive $11.8 million to create a DC Fast Charging Hub at the city's airport. This hub will feature 50 DC fast chargers, providing charging services for rental cars, ride-share drivers, and airport shuttles.
The Biden administration has faced significant criticism for the slow rollout of EV charging stations under a $5 billion U.S. government program initiated in 2021. Expanding the EV-charging infrastructure is seen as critical for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, which is a key component of U.S. efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The White House has set an ambitious goal of expanding the nationwide network of chargers to 500,000 ports, including high-speed chargers spaced no more than 50 miles (80 km) apart along the busiest highways in the country.
As of August, the U.S. had 192,000 public charging ports, and the number of publicly available fast-charging ports has increased by 90% since the start of the Biden administration. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reported that approximately 1,000 new public chargers are being added each week.
However, the rollout has been slow. In June, only seven EV-charging stations had been deployed under the 2021 program, comprising just a few dozen total charging ports. FHWA head Shailen Bhatt expressed frustration with the slow pace, stating that the agency is collaborating with states to expedite the deployment of EV chargers.
The slow progress has also drawn criticism from figures like Senator Jeff Merkley, who described the situation as "pathetic" and called it a "vast administrative failure." Additionally, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the pace of deployment. Photo by Visitor7, Wikimedia commons.