Biden's EV Charger Funding Revived Under Trump Administration

The Trump administration plans to unfreeze funding for electric vehicle charging, restoring billions of dollars made available under President Joe Biden to fill gaps in the national network. Despite the White House's retreat from backing battery-powered cars, the charging network continues to grow. The move aims to support the development of EV infrastructure.

The Trump administration has announced plans to unfreeze $5 billion in funding for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, a move that aims to support the growth of the national network despite the White House's retreat from backing battery-powered cars. This decision follows a court ruling that forced the administration to release the funds, which were initially made available under President Joe Biden's administration.

The Department of Transportation (USDOT) has issued new guidelines for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, which was previously criticized for inefficiency. According to USDOT, 84% of the allocated funds remained unobligated under the previous administration. The new rules, announced by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, aim to simplify the permitting process and streamline the distribution of funds.

The new guidelines eliminate several requirements that were previously in place, including considerations for consumer protections, emergency evacuation plans, environmental siting, and the involvement of minority- and women-owned businesses. This change aims to expedite the construction of charging stations, particularly in underserved and rural areas, but has sparked concerns about the potential environmental and social impacts of the new rules.

The move to unfreeze the funds comes as the EV charging network continues to grow, despite the White House's retreat from supporting battery-powered cars. Companies such as Ionna, which has opened 21 stations with 212 charging bays as of August 2025, are expanding their networks to meet the increasing demand for EV charging infrastructure. Additionally, private companies like Hubber, founded by former Tesla UK employees, are securing funding to grow their urban EV charging networks, addressing the shortage of fast and reliable charging in major cities.

The decision to unfreeze the funds is likely to have significant implications for the EV industry and the broader economy. As more consumers adopt electric vehicles, the demand for charging infrastructure is expected to increase, creating new opportunities for investment and growth. However, the long-term impact of the new guidelines on the environmental and social sustainability of the EV charging network remains to be seen.

References:
[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2025/08/15/electric-vehicle-chargers-federal-infrastructure/
[2] https://www.planetizen.com/news/2025/08/135768-usdot-issues-new-rules-ev-charging-grants-after-judge-forces-administration
[3] https://www.autonews.com/ev/an-ev-charging-growing-fast-despite-trump-policy-0813/
[4] https://siliconcanals.com/ex-tesla-team-powers-up-hubber-with-e69-6m/