The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced a $100m Notice of Funding Opportunity, utilizing a 10% set-aside from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program, for the Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator. The funding can be utilized to repair and replace existing, but non-operational, EV charging infrastructure. Non-functional or broken EV charger sites will be limited to those listed in the Alternative Fuels Station Locator and are at publicly accessible locations. Before releasing the NOFO, FHWA identified 6,200 chargers that met its standards of being temporarily unavailable and eligible for this program. Approximately 130 charging sites in Maryland meet this definition as of today (see afdc.energy.gov).

Local governments are directly eligible to apply. A single applicant may receive multiple awards from this program and USDOT expects to fund the vast majority of eligible projects submitted. FHWA strongly encourages applicants to streamline submissions and include as many eligible locations in a single application as possible.

Only State DOTs and local units of government are eligible for this program. The program requires the typical 80/20 cost share.

Eligible projects include repair or replacement of existing non-operational Level 2 or DCFC chargers as listed in the AFDC database as of Oct 11, 2023. Projects may be proposed on both public or private property, for private property, applicant must demonstrate consent and support from charging station owner or property owner. See NOFO page 10 for project activity definitions.

Applications are due on November 13. https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=350190