Washington - National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Grant Program

Summary

Note: The Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) created the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Grant Program with a total budget of $5 billion. Each state was allocated a share of that total to help build out a national network of electric vehicle charging stations along designated alternative fuel corridors (AFCs). With some limited exceptions, EV charging stations funded through the NEVI program should be spaced 50 miles apart and within one mile of the Interstate exit or highway.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) developed the state's NEVI plan. WSDOT will initially prioritize building out the state’s north/south and east/west interstates, I-5 and I-90, respectively. Secondary priorities for investments include completing the I-82/I-182 and US 395 followed by US 101 and US 195. WSDOT will then consider additional chargers on the highest-volume corridors, and in higher-dependency areas. Other private and public investments in EV infrastructure will also focus on high-usage corridors and centers. Future infrastructure deployments will be guided by the state’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Mapping and Forecasting Tool (ZEV-MFT), which is under development. A plan update was published in July 2023. This updated plan is a streamlined version of the initial plan with several changes including revisions to the process to identify, quantify, and measure benefits to disadvantaged communities, and information on interagency working groups established since the original plan's publication.