Transportation Secretary Unveils Revised EV Charger Rules Under NEVI Program

New NEVI guidance grants states flexibility in charger spacing, site selection, and plan approval for faster EV rollout.

Michael Morris

Aug. 19, 2025

2 min read

Takeaways

The new guidance streamlines application procedures and aims to reduce regulatory burdens for states applying for EV infrastructure funds.
States are now required to submit their EV Infrastructure Deployment Plans within 30 days, with simplified content focused on statutory and regulatory requirements.
Flexibility has been increased for determining station spacing along alternative fuel corridors to support reasonable travel distances.
Requirements related to grid integration, renewable energy considerations, consumer protections, and environmental siting have been minimized to facilitate quicker deployment.

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U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy recently unveiled revised guidance for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. The updates aim to streamline applications and provide states with more flexibility. The Interim Final Guidance is effective immediately while FHWA seeks comment on what further changes may be appropriate.

Back in February of this year, the Trump administration suspended the NEVI program in order to “review the policies underlying the implementation of the NEVI Formula Program.”

As reported by NPR in June, a Washington state federal judge ordered the administration to resume distributing money to build EV chargers after 14 states had sued to challenge the ongoing freeze on those funds.

"If Congress is requiring the federal government to support charging stations, let’s cut the waste and do it right,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy in his release. “The Biden-Buttigieg Administration failed to deliver EV chargers despite their promises. Our revised NEVI guidance slashes red tape and makes it easier for states to efficiently build out this infrastructure. While I don’t agree with subsidizing green energy, we will respect Congress' will and make sure this program uses federal resources efficiently.”

Under the Interim Final Guidance, States should submit their EV Infrastructure Deployment Plans within 30 days of the date of this guidance.

Summary of Changes:

Minimizes the content in state plans to statutory and regulatory requirements.
Simplifies the state plan approval process.
Aligns community engagement with regulatory requirements and reduces consultation requirements to advance projects.
Provides states with flexibility to determine the appropriate distance between stations along alternative fuel corridors to allow for reasonable travel.
Minimizes requirements for states to consider electric grid integration and renewable energy
Accelerates project delivery by encouraging selection of charging locations where station owners are also the site host.
Eliminates requirements for states to address consumer protections, emergency evacuation plans, environmental siting, resilience and terrain considerations.
Provides states with more flexibility to determine when their system is built out allowing NEVI funds to be used on public roads statewide.