What Trump's EV charger freeze could mean for DMV electric drivers
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The Trump administration's decision to halt a $5 billion program for expanding EV charging stations on highways nationwide could impact tens of thousands of electric vehicle owners in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
The big picture: The number of public electric vehicle chargers has more than doubled in the past four years, driven by a combination of increased private investment and a surge in government funding under former President Biden.
- But the U.S. is still far short of the 1.2 million public chargers estimated to be needed by 2030 to support anticipated EV sales.
Catch up quick: Spurring a switch from gasoline-powered cars to battery-electric vehicles was a key part of Biden's climate agenda, which Republicans have voiced a desire to undo.
- That includes potentially going after policies that made EVs more accessible, like consumer tax credits, manufacturing incentives for carmakers and a tougher tailpipe emissions law.
- Biden also pushed to have 500,000 public chargers by 2030, which Congress partly supported with a $7.5 billion allocation via the bipartisan infrastructure package.
By the numbers: From fiscal years 2022-26, Virginia was projected to receive over $106 million in EV charging station funding — funding that Trump has temporarily suspended, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Maryland was slated to receive over $62 million, while D.C. was promised over $16 million.
- Virginia has the 10th most EV charging stations in the U.S. with 1,896 statewide, per the Department of Energy. Maryland follows closely behind with 1,820.
- Much smaller in size, D.C. has 385, which still surpasses states like West Virginia, which has 175.
Zoom in: The order also paused the $10.7 million in federal funding Virginia senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner announced last month, which was slated to go toward building nearly 400 EV charging stations across Virginia.
- It puts Maryland's "clean car mandate" — which aimed to ban sales of new gas-powered cars by 2035 — in jeopardy as well.
- D.C. just paused $140 million in green initiatives due to uncertainty over grants, including one that could have given D.C. $17 million over five years to expand EV charging.