12-02-2025
ARDOT says state electirc vehicle infrasturcture plan has been suspended
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The Arkansas Department of Transportation closed the current request for proposals for the Arkansas Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Program after it was suspended.
According to a press release from ARDOT, the United States Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration sent a letter on Feb. 6 notifying state departments of transportation that the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program Guidance has been rescinded and all state EVID plans have been suspended.
The release says the FHWA is updating the NEVI Formula Program Guidance to align with the current U.S. DOT policy and priorities. These updates include those set up by the U.S. DOT.
According to the release, the FHWA wants to have an updated NEVI Formula Guidance draft published for public comment in spring 2025.
Following public comment, the FHWA will publish an updated final NEVI Formula Guidance that responds to the comments received.
According to the release, the NEVI Formula Program Guidance rescission and the State EVID Plans require ARDOT to close the current RFP.
The release says no new federal funding obligations will occur under the NEVI Formula Program. The 19 awarded projects from 2024 will not be able to move forward with their agreements because of the rescissions.
ARDOT says it will re-evaluate the NEVI program once the updated NEVI Formula Program Guidance is published by FHWA.
Arkansas was among the first group of 35 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico with approved EVID plans.
The plan was approved by former President Joe Biden's administration in 2022 and was funded by his Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The states had access to more than $900 million in NEVI formula funding from fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2023 to help build electric vehicle chargers across around 53,000 miles of highway across the country.
President Donald Trump has slammed federal funding for electric vehicle chargers as 'an incredible waste of taxpayer dollars.'
The administration may need an act of Congress to stop the EV program's spending, and it's unclear if there will be one. Industry leaders say customer demand will continue to drive growth in the charging network, regardless of federal funding.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
