The White House on Dec. 13 issued an “EV Charging Action Plan” that includes the formation of a “Joint Office of Energy and Transportation” focused on deploying electric vehicle infrastructure and that works to collect input and guidance from industry leaders, manufacturers, workers, and other stakeholders to ensure the national network "provides convenient charging for all."
[Biden-Harris Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan]
The Administration is moving quickly to develop guidance and standards for states and cities. By February 11, the Department of Transportation (DOT) aims to publish guidance for states and cities to strategically deploy EV charging stations.
NATSO is preparing public comments in response to several notices published in the Federal Register.
DOT also plans to announce a solicitation for the 6th round of Alternative Fuel Corridors designations. This program, created by the FAST Act in 2015, recognizes highway segments that have infrastructure plans to allow travel on alternative fuels, including electricity.
Any state or local agency is allowed to nominate a corridor for an alternative fuel corridor designation, and NATSO members can work with state and local agencies to ensure that their alternative fuel locations are incorporated into the nomination process.
In the highway bill passed in late 2015, Congress directed DOT to identify and establish alternative fueling corridors to support alternative-fueling stations, including electric, hydrogen, propane and natural gas fueling infrastructure at strategic locations along major national highways. DOT was further charged with identifying the near- and long-term need for, and locations of, electric vehicle, natural gas, and propane refueling infrastructure for both passenger and commercial vehicles.
NATSO member locations play a vital role in establishing alternative fuel corridors. The Federal Highway Administration highlights the NATSO-ChargePoint partnership known as the National Highway Charging Collaborative as part of its Alternative Fuel Corridors Best Practices.
As with previous calls for Alternative Fuel Corridor nominations, NATSO staff will assist members who seek to have their location included in the nomination process once that information is available.
NATSO continues to urge DOT to harness the knowledge and ingenuity of existing exit-based businesses for private investment for alternative fuel infrastructure without preempting consumer demand or forcing the private sector to compete with the government. Furthering alternative fueling facilities, such as natural gas and electric vehicle charging stations, is best realized if the travel plaza and truckstop industry's business environment is recognized as an asset.
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