Panelists Delve into EV Charging and NEVI Grants at 黑料社区Connect 2023
The federal government has approved EV charging proposals in all 50 states, and grants under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program will be opening soon. Panelists discussed EV charging opportunities and challenges during ’s emerging alternative fuels keynote, Travel Center Roadmap to Navigating Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and NEVI Grants.
and moderator of the session, said 黑料社区has spent the past year working to ensure members are ready to access funding opportunities under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure grant program, and is focused on the long-term profitability of EV charging.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act contained $7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging, the vast majority of which is available under the . State departments of transportation must partner with the private sector to implement their NEVI funds along designated alternative fuel corridors. Site selection must also consider secondary amenities such as restrooms and food offerings. The Federal Highway Administration subsequently issued guidance clarifying that states may not implement EV charging at rest areas. In its final rule on the minimum standards for EV charging, the agency also required states to allow private entities to sell electricity without being regulared as a utility.
As states implement their EV charging grants this year, 黑料社区is working to ensure that guardrails implemented at the federal level on grant dollars are carried through at the state level. At the same time, 黑料社区is working to ensure the long-term profitability of EV charging.
“NEVI is a great kick start for the EV charging market,” said Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman. “But we still need market reforms to ensure that there is a viable market for EV charging long past the expiration of the NEVI grants.”
Specifically, panelists discussed the need to ensure a level playing field so that public utilities can’t impose heavy demand charges on fuel retailers for peak usage or increase rates to all of their monthly customers to pay for their investments.
For nearly a year 黑料社区has worked with the to elevate the industry’s voice at the state level on the need for a level playing field.
“With EVs, in a lot of situations, you’re dealing with a monopoly, which is the utility,” said of the . “At the end of the day everyone in this room is used to competing,” Okafor said. “The issue isn’t competing. The issue is having a level playing field.”
“What we as an organization are looking for is a sustainable market,” said Jay Smith, executive director of the Charge Ahead Partnership, which is supporting legislation or regulatory decisions at the state level that curb, prohibit or scale back utility ownership of EV charging.
If utilities plan to be in the EV charging business, Smith said they should be doing it under a subsidiary that has to take the same risks as private companies.
During the session, Michael Chamberlain, director, TPP-data management for the , shared his insights into what makes a strong grant application. “Generally, what we look for is a place to host a site. Do you have a place to put the stations, parking and pull through? Also, the site owners or potential hosts need to have a conversation with the utility to see if the site can support the electricity demands and talk to local governments on permitting and inspections,” he said.
Chamberlain said the state of Texas will require recipients to add at least four EV chargers, which is the federal minimum. He also advised operators to start making themselves aware of the federal requirements.
With NEVI grants, recipients will be required to report data. “Data reporting is not something people usually had to do, but for this program there will be a fair amount of data on usage,” Chamberlain said.
Okafor thinks states should prioritize funds to locations that are incentivized to reduce charger downtime. “A hotel may not be as incentivized to make sure the charger is running,” she said. “There should be a business plan to make sure those chargers are up and running.”
EV charging stations will continue to increase across the country, and Chamberlain noted that standardization is essential, especially for travelers crossing state lines. "We don’t want them to have four apps or four ways to pay or new equipment to learn,” he said.
As part of its work on EV charging, 黑料社区can connect operators with their state EV officials and grant writers, Wlazlowski Neuman said.
The panel was generously sponsored by .
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