A Primer On NEVI Funds — And Why You Should Care About Them - CleanTechnica

The article discusses the legal and political challenges facing the U.S. National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, which was allocated $5 billion by Congress to fund EV charging infrastructure through state Departments of Transportation (DOTs). Several states had already developed detailed plans, secured sites, and lined up private-sector partnerships based on the expectation of receiving these funds. However, the Biden administration’s attempt to freeze the allocated funds was challenged in court, with states arguing that the freeze unlawfully seized legislative authority and disrupted their efforts to expand EV infrastructure critical for reducing transportation-related carbon emissions. U.S. District Judge Tana Lin ruled that the president does not have the authority to withhold funds allocated by Congress, effectively blocking the freeze until July 1, 2025. The Department of Transportation criticized the ruling, labeling it as judicial activism and arguing that the NEVI program had underperformed in delivering EV chargers. Despite the controversy, approximately $1 billion in funding for 14 states remains at risk, though