US sets common standards for federally funded EV chargers

The US Department of Transportation announced final minimum standards for federally funded electric-vehicle chargers on February 15, covering plugs, charging speeds, payments and station information.

The package also includes a domestic-manufacturing plan. A separate $700 million charging and fueling grant round will open soon, according to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation.

More consistent charging

The standards aim to make charging across different networks more predictable. They’ll require consistent connector types and speeds, common payment systems, and accessible information about prices, locations and availability. Workforce-training provisions are also included.

DOT says its Build America, Buy America implementation plan gives manufacturers a transition period to move supply chains to the US.

Grants haven’t opened yet

The coming round draws on fiscal 2022 and 2023 funding. It’s part of the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program, which provides $2.5 billion over five years. Cities, towns, Tribes and states are among the governments the administration says will soon be able to apply.

Funding is intended for publicly accessible charging and other fueling infrastructure in urban and rural communities, with particular attention to underserved and disadvantaged areas.

Reliability research to follow

The Joint Office’s also issued a notice of intent for Ride and Drive Electric, a research and development funding opportunity focused on charging reliability, resilience, equity and workforce development. It’ll continue providing technical assistance as states and communities build stations.

Photo: “Charging a vehicle” by Oregon Department of Transportation, April 5, 2022, via Flickr. CC BY 2.0. A pre-announcement photograph of Oregon’s West Coast Electric Highway, shown for context. Display crops may vary.

Sources: US Department of Transportation; Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, February 15, 2023.