Not One Charger Installed from 7.5 billion program. Typical Democrat Corruption
The Biden administration’s ambitious plan to revolutionize the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in the United States, as outlined in the 2021 infrastructure bill, is facing setbacks as reports reveal that not a single public charger has been built, despite a substantial $7.5 billion investment commitment.
A cornerstone of President Biden’s strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 is the significant expansion of the nation’s charging network, aligning with his goal of having half of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. be electric by 2030. The administration has earmarked $7.5 billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for this purpose, intending to build 1.2 million public chargers to meet the purportedly growing demand for EVs.
Lots of headlines written about how EV demand is faltering. Is it?
Global EV sales are on pace for a record year. Heading for around 14 million sold, up 36%. https://t.co/toIkyQQpsZ pic.twitter.com/rZxY9MgON0— Colin Mckerracher (@colinmckerrache) December 5, 2023
The funding is divided into two programs: the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program and the $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program, both administered through agencies affiliated with the Department of Transportation (DOT). Despite over $2 billion being authorized, progress has been sluggish, with less than half of the states initiating bids for construction, and no public charger has been completed.
As of the end of October, the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, leading the administration’s efforts, reported that only seven states had issued conditional awards for new NEVI stations, totaling $101.5 million. Two states have agreements in place, and 17 states are still soliciting proposals for new stations. The initial wave of 26 states at the forefront of the project, with Ohio leading, has seen limited progress.
🔥Ford’s Mach-E likely losing EV tax credit from January!
That’s a huge blow to Ford’s EV business since the Mach-E accounts for 57% of Ford US pure electric vehicles sales (Jan-Nov). Ford’s electric vehicle business is already generating material losses for the company: in the… pic.twitter.com/CAvzH50j5a
— AJ (@alojoh) December 6, 2023
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), responsible for administering the $5 billion NEVI program, has yet to provide updated information on the status of federally-funded EV charger projects.
This delay raises questions about the administration’s claim of being “on track” to install 1.2 million public chargers by 2030. Critics, particularly among Republicans, have expressed skepticism about federal funding for EV infrastructure, with former President Donald Trump opposing EV subsidies and advocating for market-driven choices in vehicle preferences.
While EV sales in the U.S. reached a record 313,086 in the third quarter of 2023, some automakers express concerns about demand falling short of expectations, leading them to scale back expansion plans. A significant hurdle to widespread EV adoption is “range anxiety,” the fear of running out of power without access to a charger.
Reports of an Electric Vehicle Slowdown Have Been Greatly Exaggerated – Bloomberg
“Sales of passenger EVs are on pace to hit a record 14 million this year, up 36% from 2022. In the US, sales are growing even faster and will be up 50% this year.” pic.twitter.com/9ki7k39ENQ
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) December 6, 2023
A recent study from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) suggests that the national charging network needs to grow from 3.1 million ports in 2022 to 28 million by 2030 to support approximately 33 million light-duty plug-in EVs. Currently, the U.S. has 182,892 public chargers, and the NREL estimates a need for 1.2 million by 2030.
The total investment required for publicly accessible charging infrastructure through 2030, including the $7.5 billion federal funding, is estimated to range from $31 billion to $55 billion. When incorporating private networks, the estimate increases to $53 billion to $127 billion, with private chargers constituting 52%, public DC fast chargers 39%, and public L2 chargers 9%, according to the NREL study.
Despite the current slow progress, advocates like Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, remain optimistic, emphasizing the transformative impact of the investments. Klein suggests that the gradual pace is a necessary part of the process, stating, “You have to go slow to go fast.” Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, a key figure in the administration’s push for EV adoption, acknowledges the current insufficiency of chargers and the need to address non-functional stations, as evidenced by the recent announcement of $100 million in funding for repairs and replacements.
Major Points Discussed:
- Despite President Biden’s $7.5 billion commitment to build 1.2 million public electric vehicle (EV) chargers, reports indicate that not a single charger has been constructed so far.
- The funding, divided into the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program and the $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program, faces delays, with less than half of the states initiating construction bids.
- Critics, particularly among Republicans, are skeptical about federal funding for EV infrastructure, questioning the administration’s claim of being “on track” to install 1.2 million chargers by 2030.
- While EV sales hit a record in 2023, concerns about demand falling short of expectations persist, with “range anxiety” being a significant barrier to widespread EV adoption.
- A National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) study suggests the need for the national charging network to grow from 3.1 million ports in 2022 to 28 million by 2030, requiring an estimated total investment of $31-$55 billion through 2030.
Al Santana, freelance writer for Whatfinger News
