On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it had released a free technical resource to help urban communities take advantage of federal funding for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
The Urban EV toolkit, released in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, will help larger communities access some of the $7.5 billion to build out the EV charging network.
The guide provides a comprehensive resource for communities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), transportation providers, businesses and property owners and developers on how to best leverage funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The toolkit also includes guidance to help urban areas implement other forms of electric transportation like electrified public transit, electric bikes and scooters, and ride-share services.
“Under President Biden’s leadership, we’re creating a generation of good-paying jobs – many of which don’t require a four-year degree – building a nationwide network of EV chargers,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “This toolkit will help all communities, big and small, bring EV charging to their residents, which will lower costs for drivers, create jobs, and reduce pollution.”
The toolkit builds on recently published minimum standards for federally funded EV infrastructure and the Build America, Buy America requirements. Earlier this year, the Biden administration released a blueprint to decarbonize the US transportation sector and cut all transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
In September 2022, the DOT approved plans from all 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, to build a network of EV chargers. This spring, the DOT opened the application process for the first $700 million of the total $2.5 billion in EV charging infrastructure funding.
“Sustainable transportation solutions are headed to every community in the nation – rural, urban, and everywhere in between – thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda,” said Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm. “This one-stop resource outlines access to technology in urban areas and funding to drive the future of an electrified, convenient and reliable transportation system across America.”