Building on the growing support for EV adoption, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a $700 million federal grant program for public EV charging infrastructure through the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI).

The CFI Program Explained

The $2.5 billion CFI program, created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides federal grants for EV charging infrastructure. Unlike the NEVI program, CFI grants are awarded directly by the U.S. DOT to eligible public entities, including cities, states, metropolitan planning organizations, tribal governments, and public authorities with transportation functions.

The program divides funding equally between two initiatives:

Community Program ($350M)

• Supports charging infrastructure where people live and work
• Eligible locations: public facilities, private parking facilities
• Allows partnerships with private entities
• Prioritizes economically disadvantaged areas and communities with limited private parking

Corridor Program ($350M)

• Focuses on charging infrastructure along interstate highways
• Allows installation within 5 miles of highways
• Complements the existing NEVI program

Best Practices for CFI Applications

1. Right-Size Your Projects

• Match charging types to location needs:
  • Level 2 charging: Long-dwell locations (workplaces, libraries)
  • DC fast charging: High-traffic, short-dwell locations (grocery stores, shopping centers)

2. Maintain Flexibility

• Avoid over-prescriptive proposals
• Work with charging experts to determine:
  • Power capacity
  • Projected utilization
  • Site characteristics
• Consider multiple candidate sites

3. Use Competitive Solicitations

• Implement points-based scorecards
• Evaluate contractors based on:
  • Qualifications
  • Experience
  • Cost-effectiveness

4. Take an Incremental Approach

• Start with smaller funding requests
• Address immediate charging needs
• Incorporate learnings into future rounds
• Consider community growth and changing needs

The program emphasizes environmental justice, safety, community engagement, workforce development, and equity in project evaluation. Public entities can partner with experienced charging networks for installation, ownership, operation, and maintenance of the infrastructure.

Applications require careful planning, considering factors like traffic safety, equitable access, and future scalability. Successful proposals should demonstrate clear project goals while maintaining flexibility in implementation details.

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