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On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) said it will solicit feedback on minimum standards for electric vehicle charging stations.
The FHWA previously set minimum standards and requirements for federally funded charges with flexibility and responsiveness to rapidly changing technology in mind. Now, with the implementation of J3400 TM EV charging standards set by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), any supplier or manufacturer will be able to use and deploy the Tesla-developed North America Charging Standard (NACS) connector, which a majority of automakers have said they will adopt beginning in 2025. The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation worked with SAE to develop a process and timeline for standardization.
The FHWA will submit a Request for Information (RFI) for feedback on EV charging standards that will inform how FHWA can ensure new technology and innovation, like J3400, are incorporated into minimum standards and requirements for federally-funded EV charging stations, and to ensure that the available network of EV chargers meets the needs of consumers now and in the future.
“EV charging technology is rapidly evolving and it is important that the Federal government keeps pace,” FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt said. “We’re working hand-in-hand with our federal, state, and local partners, and the private sector to ensure the national EV charging network meets the needs of all EV drivers, no matter what type of electric vehicle they drive.”
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will invest $7.5 billion into a national EV charging network intended to help as many Americans as possible to use a public charging network. Current federal requirements allow for alternative types of connectors on all federally funded DC fast chargers so long as there is also a combined charging system (CCS) connector.