The Biden administration has taken a major step toward implementing its plan to develop a nationwide network of charging stations for electric vehicles, by allocating an initial $615 million among states for the program.

The US Dept. of Transportation and Dept. of Energy on Feb. 10 announced state-by-state allotments for the first year’s formula funding for the EV charging station program, which was established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

该法律于11月15日制定，在五年内为雄心勃勃的计划包含75亿美元。其中包括将50亿美元按公式分配在各州和25亿美元的可酌情赠款中，该州将竞争。

A senior Biden administration official said in a Feb. 9 media briefing that funds will not be released immediately; states must first submit their implementation plans by Aug. 1 for DOT-DOE approval.

酌处赠款计划将在以后开始。

另一位官员说，政府的目标是到2030年之前拥有500,000个充电器。IIJA资金将是“重大的首付”。

德克萨斯州等待DOT-DOE批准，将获得2022年公式基金的最大分配，60040万美元。加利福尼亚排名第二，5680万美元；佛罗里达州是第三，拥有2930万美元。

纽约排名第四，获得2600万美元，宾夕法尼亚州排名第五，2540万美元。

政府官员表示，他们将确保至少40％的电动汽车投资将使处境不利的社区受益。

The program isn't starting from scratch, but will build on existing “alternative fuel corridors” around the country. “These corridors will form the spine of the national network of EV charging stations,” an official said.

他说，这些走廊覆盖了构成国家公路系统的165,000多英里，其中包括134个州际公路领域以及125个编号美国高速公路和一些当地道路的部分。

他说，已有48个州已经有指定的EV走廊，这些州已准备好用于电动汽车的基础设施。

Another official noted that with sales of electric vehicles and the number of EVs on the road growing rapidly, “we absolutely need to make sure that we have the charging infrastructure there and are ready to meet those vehicles when they get there.”

DOT and DOE also issued initial guidance for the program on Feb. 10. One benchmark is that the chargers should be no more than 50 miles apart, with some exceptions possible.

这些机构将在90天内提供更具体的要求。

Federal funds will account for 80% of the costs of installing the charging stations; states will contribute a 20% matching share.

Lonnie Stephenson, president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said in a statement that IBEW is pleased that the DOT-DOE guidance “sets the foundation for the development of national standards and recognizes the need for quality training.”

Stephenson noted that the guidance mentions the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program as an example of “high-quality training.”

培训计划的“合作顾问”包括公用事业，通用汽车和国家联合学徒和培训委员会。后者包括来自IBEW的代表和国家电气承包商协会的一章。

Morgan Folger, Destination: Zero Carbon director for advocacy group Environment America, said in a statement, “A more prolific charging network makes it easier for people to drive electric cars and feel confident they have a place to power up along the way.”