Trump administration’s decision to freeze electric vehicle infrastructure program: Consumers will pay the price
Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829
Washington, DC — The National Consumers League (NCL) is alarmed by the Trump administration’s recent decision to freeze a vital program designed to expand electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and support clean energy initiatives across the country. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, created under the Biden administration, allocates nearly $5 billion to assist states in developing a national network of 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations along designated alternative fuel corridors.
“As of March 2024, there are nearly six million battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids on the road, and that number is growing daily,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “NCL believes this decision was a misstep that will ultimately cost consumers, as expanding charging infrastructure is essential to advancing clean transportation and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.”
This program was intended to bolster EV infrastructure improvements, primarily through the installation of new chargers. However, the Trump administration’s decision to freeze $3 billion in funding for EV charging stations is a significant setback for consumers.
Virginia has a total of 56,000 EVs, and the state is already beginning to feel the effects of this decision. 51 of its 53 planned electric vehicle charging stations are now on hold after the Trump administration rescinded funding. Attorneys at the Southern Environmental Law Center have called the freeze legally questionable.
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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.
