The Biden administration on Monday took the initial steps in its plan for a
national network of 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations, using about$7.5
billion in funds from the recently enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The White House unveiled its Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan which, while
short on specifics, lays out the framework for achieving President Joe Biden's
goals of a national charging network and having electric vehicles comprise 50%
of U.S. car sales by the end of the decade.

The plan calls for $5 billion to help states build out charging networks, with
10% of annual funding to be set aside for grants that will help fill gaps in
the national network. Another $2.5 billion will be used for a competitive grant
program to help communities and transportation corridors meet White House
priorities, such as supporting rural charging, improving local air quality and
increasing EV charging access in disadvantaged communities.

The administration claims the plan "is laying the foundation for a nationwide
network of EV charging infrastructure to provide a reliable, affordable,
convenient, seamless user experience that is equitable and accessible for all
Americans."

The administration said that by Feb. 11 it will release guidance for states and
cities on EV charging station deployment and building out a national charging
network along the highway system. By May 13 the Department of Transportation
will publish national standards for EV chargers in the network.

"The current network of over 100,000 public chargers operates with different
plug types, payment options, data availability, and hardware hookups. Today's
actions will establish a more uniform approach, provide greater convenience for
customers, and offer increased confidence for industry," the White House
announcement said.

The administration also announced the creation of a new office that is a
collaboration between the departments of Energy and Transportation that will
oversee the electrification effort.

When making the announcement, the administration also touted provisions of the
infrastructure law aimed at encouraging domestic manufacturing of EV batteries
and the domestic supply and recycling of materials used in batteries.

The law includes $7 billion to be used in this effort, including $3 billion in
grants to promote production of battery minerals and refined materials, $3
billion to promote battery manufacturing, and about $1 billion to promote
battery recycling efforts.

While the administration plan would increase the number of EV chargers in the
U.S. by about 400%, it is still a small fraction of the number some analysts
say is needed to promote a national transition to electric vehicles. Earlier
this year, for instance, the University of California, Berkeley's Goldman
School of Public Policy said a nationwide transition by 2035 was feasible, but
also estimated that for the next 30 years the U.S. must annually install270,000
light-duty vehicle public charge points and 35,000 charge points forheavy- and
medium-duty vehicles at a cost $6.5 billion per year.

--Reporting by Steve Cronin, scronin@opisnet.com; Editing by Michael Kelly,
michael.kelly3@ihsmarkit.com




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