NEVI charging roll-out lagging, senators propose redirecting unused funds

Senator Jim Lummis and others raised concerns that the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program has produced fewer chargers than intended because of burdensome technical requirements and regulation. Lummis said the program "buckled under piles of regulation" and that states like Wyoming have funds sitting unused.

Secretary Duffy said the prior guidance "wasn't working" and reported that about 66 chargers had been built with roughly $5 billion of NEVI-directed funds under the previous approach. He said the department is redoing guidance to make it more workable and that Congress could choose to reallocate funds if it wished.

Lummis described legislation she has introduced, the Highway Funding Flexibility Act, which would permit states to redirect unused EV charger funds to highway and safety priorities such as truck parking and wildlife crossings. Duffy said he will cooperate with senators and noted he supports the principle that electric vehicles should contribute to road maintenance but that reallocation of appropriated funds is a Congressional decision.

The committee did not change funding law at the hearing; senators asked DOT to publish revised NEVI guidance and to provide data on project status and the amounts obligated and built.