Frequently Asked Questions

Of the $5 billion in NEVI formula funds, New York State is expected to receive $175 million (split into five annual allotments) between federal fiscal year 2022 and 2026. Eligible entities may also apply to competitive discretionary grant programs that will allocate another $2.5 billion in funds nationally for charging and fueling infrastructure along designated alternative fuel corridors (for EVs and other alternative fuels) and within communities. The Federal Highway Administration has not yet announced rules for these competitive discretionary grant programs.

NEVI formula funding can initially be used to deploy EV charging infrastructure that establishes an interconnected charging network at locations within one travel mile of a designated EV corridor. A network of designated corridors was established over the past 6 years through a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) program. 

NEVI formula funding must be used to install fast EV chargers within one mile of a designated EV corridor until these corridors have chargers no more than 50 miles apart that meet all program requirements. Once FHWA certifies that all the State’s EV corridors are compliant (“built out” – see below) then funds can be used at other publicly accessible locations. New York State offers other programs for EV charging stations as well.

The NEVI Guidance indicates that the NEVI discretionary grant program (separate from the formula funding program) will be divided into two distinct grant programs to support deployment of publicly accessible alternative fueling infrastructure:

• The Corridor Charging Grant Program will support deploying publicly accessible EV charging, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling infrastructure along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors
• The Community Charging Grant Program will support deploying publicly accessible EV charging, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling infrastructure in communities

Additional guidance and information on the Corridor and Community Grant Programs is expected from FHWA in the near future.

No. NEVI funding may only be used to deploy EV charging infrastructure. Other programs are available to support the purchase of EVs. The federal government offers tax credits of up to $7,500 per vehicle for the purchase of EVs. New York offers rebates of up to $2,000 per vehicle for the purchase or lease of EVs through the Drive Clean Rebate and larger rebates for electric trucks and buses through the New York Truck Voucher Incentive Program.

Federal NEVI formula fund guidance requires EV charging facilities to be built within one mile of the designated EV corridor, no more than 50 miles apart along the entire length of a designated EV corridor. The guidance indicates that NEVI-funded charging facilities must each have at least four 150kW Direct Current (DC) Fast Chargers with Combined Charging System (CCS) ports capable of simultaneously DC charging four EVs. EV charging infrastructure must have a minimum station power capability at or above 600kW and must support charging at a rate of at least 150 kW per port simultaneously across four ports.

Maps showing the designated Alternate Fuel Corridors for electric vehicles in New York State can be found on the NEVI page.

Alternate Fuel Corridors for electric vehicles are not considered “built out” until they meet the new NEVI program requirements and are certified as built out by the Federal Highway Administration.

The State first must submit its EV Deployment Plan to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation by August 1, 2022. A State’s EV Deployment Plan must be approved by FHWA before NEVI formula funds can be spent. FHWA approval is expected by September 30, 2022.

For the purposes of the federal NEVI guidance, EVs include passenger cars and light trucks, but State EV Deployment Plans may also estimate and consider the potential for future needs for EV charging including medium-and heavy-duty EVs as well as shared mobility such as micro-transit and transportation network companies. Additional guidance and information on EV freight will be forthcoming in guidance from FHWA. Charging for medium- and heavy-duty EVs may be eligible for future competitive federal funding programs.

The Federal Highway Administration issued program guidance [PDF] for the NEVI program on February 10, 2022. Additional information is available at the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation website.

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