Statewide and Multistate EV Partners and Initiatives
Statewide, multistate, and inter-Tribal agencies and groups can play a key role in connecting stakeholders, identifying available funding opportunities, and providing technical expertise. Some of these partners are specific to a particular State, Tribe, or region of the country, while others are national initiatives with affiliated local, State, Tribal, or regional stakeholder groups.
FHWA’s Alternative Fuel Corridor Designations
Partnership Success Story: EVSE at Truck Stops
The National Association of Truck Stop Operators, which represents America’s travel plazas and truck stops, and the EV network company ChargePoint partnered to build a network of EV charging stations at truck stops and travel plazas across the United States. They aim to install EVSE at 4,000 truck stops, travel plazas, and fuel retailers by 2030.
FHWA’s Alternative Fuel Corridor network serves as a roadmap for these partners to identify gaps in EV infrastructure along corridors and to target EV infrastructure installations in those locations.
At the national level, since 2016, the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Alternative Fuel Corridor (AFC) Designations hhave catalyzed the expansion of a national corridor network of EV charging stations along over 75,000 miles (or 33 percent) of the National Highway System (NHS), including nearly 45,000 miles of the Nation’s Interstate System (92 percent). All 50 states plus DC and Puerto Rico have one or more designated EV corridor (see map).
FHWA works with other Federal, State, and local officials and with private industry to facilitate an interstate and major road network of alternative clean fuel stations (EV charging, hydrogen, natural gas, and propane) so commercial and passenger vehicles can reliably travel between cities and regions and across the Nation.
The AFC program engages State, Tribal, and local officials, including State departments of transportation (DOTs) and Tribal transportation planning agencies, and frequently collaborates with local Clean Cities coalitions to identify candidate highway segments for this national network. The program also encourages multistate, inter-Tribal and regional cooperation and collaboration on planning and developing alternative fueling and charging locations along corridors, and provides guidance to States and Tribes on implementing EV charging and other alternative fueling highway signage
Rural entities can participate in the AFC designation process or refer to existing AFC designations to determine where EV infrastructure exists or is being planned in a particular area.
In addition, NEVI formula funding under BIL is required to be spent along EV corridors designated by the AFC program. The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, provides support and expertise to States building out their EV corridors with NEVI funding and will continue to evolve as a partner to potential applicants for other funding programs created under BIL.
To learn about AFC designations and plans for a particular State, see the AFC State Points of Contact list.
EPA Regional Diesel Collaboratives
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Regional Diesel Collaboratives work to reduce diesel emissions through strategies like fuel efficiency, alternative fuels, and electrification. These collaboratives involve public-private collaboration to share information, plan projects, leverage funding, and promote the use of vehicles, vessels, and equipment that can use alternative fuel. Regional collaborative partners typically include State environmental agencies, local governments, EPA regional offices, energy agencies or coalitions, nonprofits, and private-sector companies.
The five Regional Diesel Collaboratives cover the whole United States and may be able to connect rural entities with partners to pursue EVSE projects, particularly around medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.
For example, the mission of the West Coast Collaborative Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Corridor Coalition is to accelerate the modernization of West Coast transportation corridors by deploying alternative fuel infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and equipment.
State and Tribal Environmental and Energy Agencies
State and Tribal agencies often conduct planning specific to transportation, including electric vehicles. State- and Tribal- level EV implementation plans can be an important source of information on planned locations for EV infrastructure or gaps in an existing charging network. They may identify funding or other resources available from State and Tribal agencies or other stakeholders within a State or Tribal Land. For more information on State- and Tribal- level EV readiness planning, see Progress toward EV Readiness.
State environmental and energy agencies (e.g., a State department of natural resources or State energy office) may also offer programs and funding to support EV infrastructure. State energy offices generally operate under the direction of governors or legislatures and are funded by both State and Federal appropriations. Many State energy offices offer funding or technical assistance programs for EV infrastructure. They may also conduct EV readiness planning or implement State policies related to EVs. The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) Interactive State Energy Offices Map provides contact information for each State energy office.
State agencies, typically the environmental or air quality agency, also administer settlement funds from the 2016 Volkswagen decision. The U.S. government and Volkswagen (VW) have resolved allegations that VW violated the Clean Air Act, and the enforcement settlement provides nearly $3 billion to States through an Environmental Mitigation Trust. The settlement also commits VW to invest $2 billion in zero emission vehicle infrastructure. VW created a subsidiary company, Electrify America, to manage the $2 billion zero emission vehicle investment. Each State designated a lead agency that manages the State’s allocated funding from the Environmental Mitigation Trust, which can be spent on projects including EVs and EV charging stations. See the VW Mitigation Trust website for information on the State Trust and Indian Tribe Trust. See also the National Association of Clean Air Agencies’ contact information for each State’s lead agency.
Tribal environmental protection agencies, Tribal utility authorities, and Tribal Energy Development Organizations (TEDOs) may also offer programs and coordinate initiatives to secure funding to support EV infrastructure on Tribal Lands. These entities operate under the direction of Tribal Governments and enforce tribal law on Tribal Lands. They may also conduct EV readiness planning or implement Tribal policies related to EVs.
State and Tribal Departments of Transportation
PennDOT Corridor EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan
In 2021, Pennsylvania DOT (PennDOT) published its Alternative Fuels Deployment Plan for EV charging and natural gas refueling infrastructure along the I-81/I-78 corridor in Pennsylvania. The plan identifies a data-driven approach for identifying and prioritizing locations for new DCFC infrastructure, engaging deployment partners including EV network companies and site hosts, and leveraging existing State funding opportunities. PennDOT developed this approach in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection with a shared goal of developing priority EV station locations eligible for State grant funding.
Arizona DOT, Tennessee DOT, Illinois DOT, and the North Central Texas Council of Governments have or are in the process of developing similar plans.
State DOTs and Tribal departments or divisions of transportation can offer technical and funding resources to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure as well as construction contracting oversight or other partnering roles.
For example, FHWA’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program apportions funding to State DOTs by statutory formula for projects that improve air quality and provide congestion relief. These CMAQ funds may also be transferred to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to manage eligible transit projects. Electric vehicle projects, including fleet conversions, charging infrastructure, and shared micromobility, are one of the eligible project categories under CMAQ. FHWA’s Tribal Transportation Program has direct funding agreements with 135 federally recognized Tribes to provide safe and adequate transportation and public road access to and within Tribal Lands in the United States
In addition, BIL provides formula funding to State DOTs for a national electric vehicle formula program, which is also meant to support EV infrastructure on Tribal Lands (see Federal Funding Programs for more information on BIL).
Some State DOTs, such as Iowa DOT, Maine DOT, and Kansas DOT, among others, administer or co-administer with sister State agencies the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust funds allocated for EV charging infrastructure investment. Several State DOTs also administer State-developed grant programs for EV and other alternative fuel infrastructure. Such examples include Washington State DOT’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Grant Program.
State DOTs also play a central role in planning and supporting EV infrastructure deployment. Many either lead or support the process in their State for nominating NHS corridors for designation under the FHWA Alternative Fuels Corridor program. They conduct planning for building out and deploying EV infrastructure along the NHS, and they coordinate with other State agencies to help ensure EV readiness through strategic infrastructure planning that focuses on corridors, workplaces, and communities.
State DOTs also operate and oversee road and highway signage, and State DOT traffic engineers are responsible for approving and installing EV infrastructure wayfinding signage along NHS corridors.
Additional Multistate and Inter-Tribal Initiatives
Many States, Tribes, and regions of the country have partnerships and initiatives around electric vehicles. These groups may focus on improving air quality generally (e.g., Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management), developing or advocating for State-level or regional policies to encourage EVs (e.g., REV West and the Transportation and Climate Initiative), or partnering on EV charging infrastructure (e.g., Northeast Electric Vehicle Network, West Coast Electric Highway).
EV Readiness through an Inter-Tribal Initiative
Native-led nonprofit organizations such as Native Sun Community Development are leading the way on EV readiness. Native Sun Community Development brought together more than a dozen collaborators including the Standing Rock Renewable Energy Power Authority, Red Lake Fishery, and two utilities to build an Inter-Tribal Electric Vehicle Charging Network that will connect Minneapolis with the Standing Rock Tribal Nation, Red Lake Nation, White Earth, and Leech Lake, as well as another 17 Tribal Nations located in Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The project partners plan to install 63 Level 2 charging stations and 59 fast-charging hubs after they were awarded $6.67 million from the Department of Energy..
Entities interested in pursuing EV projects can connect with these types of groups for technical assistance, connections to project partners, or funding.
For more information on multistate climate initiatives, see the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. The Alternative Fuels Data Center’s (AFDC) State Information tool also has details on potential partners in each State, including contact information for relevant State agencies and information on completed or ongoing EV charging projects.
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