On September 13, 2023, the Biden-Harris administration announced a $100 million program to help US states and government agencies repair and upgrade level 2 alternating current (AC) chargers and direct current (DC) fast chargers. Here’s what the program is all about and how you can apply for federal funding.
The EVCRAA is part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, a $5 billion infrastructure program in the US to build a coast-to-coast EV charging network. The EVCRAA is a $100 million program that focuses on repairing or replacing broken or non-operational EV chargers to improve the reliability of existing EV charging infrastructure.
According to the US Department of Transportation, approximately 5,700 level 2 AC charging ports and 550 DC fast charging ports were listed as “temporarily unavailable” in the US as of September 11, 2023.
“We know that people expect public EV chargers to work the first time, every time,” said Joint Office of Energy and Transportation Executive Director Gabe Klein. “That’s why we have a multi-pronged approach to create a seamless charging experience by building a capable workforce, tracking reliability metrics, and convening industry to ensure they can meet the performance standards for federally funded chargers set earlier this year.”
State departments of transportation and local governments are eligible to apply for EVCRAA funding. States and localities can then work with manufacturers like Tritium, and maintenance providers to repair or replace non-operational chargers. Based on initial estimates of eligible chargers and the funding available, the US Department of Transportation anticipates that all eligible projects will likely be awarded under this program.
Projects must support repair or replacement of existing broken or non-operational publicly accessible level 2 AC chargers or DC fast chargers, as of October 11, 2023. States may apply for funding to repair or replace chargers identified as temporarily unavailable in the US as of September 11, 2023 by the US Department of Transportation. A full list of inoperable chargers by state can be found here. Chargers can be repaired, or replaced with upgraded equipment and must be operational within 12 months.
Chargers need to be NEVI and Buy America compliant; Tritium has chargers available now that meet these requirements with the short lead times necessary to meet operational conditions within 12 months.
States and government agencies may consider replacing broken level 2 AC chargers along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors with DC fast chargers using EVCRAA funds. Applicants are encouraged to include multiple locations to streamline the application process and review.
The federal government will cover up to 80 percent of the total cost of the repair/replacement project. Awardees must provide at least 20 percent of the total cost of the project as a matching share in cash or in-kind services.
States and government entities can apply for EVCRAA funds through the US grants website here. The deadline for applications is November 13, 2023.
The Tritium RTM75 (50-75kW) standalone DC fast charger is a compact, all-in-one charger for tight spaces like parking structures, retail environments, distribution centers, or warehouses. It’s designed to be easily maintained in the field thanks to its modular design and construction.
The Tritium PKM150 (100-150kW) distributed DC fast charging system is designed for highway rest stops, fuel centers, convenience centers, commercial depots and distribution centers, or anywhere passenger or commercial EVs need fast charging. The PKM150 makes the most of available grid power, dynamically distributing electricity to EVs based on their needs. That means greater efficiency, so you can charge more vehicles with less equipment and less-than-optimal power feeds. One PKM system with four chargers can charge eight EVs. The PKM150 is also designed to be easily maintained and repaired in the field thanks to its modular design and construction. Tritium customers report impressive uptime with their PKM150 chargers.
Tritium’s PKM150 NEVI system and RTM75 charger meet requirements of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program and is assembled in our Tennessee facility.
To learn more about Tritium’s NEVI charging system, contact an expert today.
In 2022 Tritium passed major milestones on the road to electrifying transportation. We joined the NASDAQ in January, met with President Joe Biden, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, and more at the White House, signed multiple partnership agreements with major energy suppliers and charge point operators, expanded our executive team, and opened our new manufacturing facility in Tennessee. We hired more than 350 new employees and shipped thousands of chargers around the world and received approximately $200 million in sales orders. We look forward to making 2023 an even bigger year for Tritium and electric vehicle (EV) fast charging.
Ringing the Closing Bell at the NASDAQ
After more than 20 years as a private company, Tritium went public on January 27, 2022.
“The transport industry is being electrified, which means it is more important than ever for EV owners to have access to rapid, reliable charging infrastructure,” said Jane Hunter, Tritium’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are proud to provide this networked infrastructure to our customers. As a public company, we expect to continue to expand our product suite and global footprint.”
Meeting President Biden at the White House
President Joe Biden invited Tritium CEO Jane Hunter to the White House to meet with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, former National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, and many other politicians. Biden spoke about his administration’s commitment to electrifying transportation and building America’s fast charging infrastructure. Jane Hunter spoke about our new Tennessee manufacturing facility and the future of Tritium in America.
“This is an exciting time for the e-mobility industry,” said Hunter. “We’ve reached a tipping point, and transportation as we know it is experiencing a history-making shift. In the process, it’s providing a bipartisan opportunity to create a new future for the benefit of all Americans. Cleaner air and more jobs — it’s a win-win, for Tritium, which will continue to lead the charge in this industry, and for Americans, who will be far more likely to choose EVs when they can charge them with ease.”
“We’re going to announce a state-by-state allocation for $5 billion in funding for these chargers so states can start making plans to build out what will become a national network of electric vehicle chargers,” said President Biden. “Tritium’s new facility is going to produce up to 30 000 of these chargers every year. They’ll use American parts, American iron, American steel, and they’ll be installed up and down the highways and corridors in our communities all across the country by union workers from the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers).”
Major Partnership Agreements
Tritium signed major partnership agreements with world-leading energy companies and charge point operators.
BP – Tritium signed a multi-year contract to deliver nearly 1,000 DC fast chargers to world-leading energy company BP for its BP Pulse charging networks in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia.
EasyGo – Largest private car charging network in Ireland announced deployment of 200 Tritium DC fast chargers.
Enel X Way – US charge point operator Enel X Way agreed to purchase 250 Tritium DC fast chargers for its nation-wide charging network.
evyve – UK charging network evyve plans to install 10,000 charging stations by 2030 and placed an initial order for 350 Tritium DC fast chargers.
Osprey – UK charge point operator Osprey purchased over 250 Tritium rapid chargers to expand their UK network across 100 new charging destinations.
Wise EV – Wise EV is working with Tritium to build a charging network in the United States.
Tennessee Manufacturing Facility
In August, Tritium officially opened our new Tennessee manufacturing facility. Our first US-based EV fast charger manufacturing facility, located in Lebanon, Tennessee, will employ more than 500 people over the next five years and will play a crucial role in building America’s coast-to-coast fast-charging network.
Tritium by the Numbers
As of the date of this publication, Tritium has achieved the following milestones.
Looking to 2023
In 2023 Tritium plans to keep charging ahead in our quest to electrify transportation across the globe. Our Tennessee facility will add additional assembly lines to meet growing demand for DC fast chargers in the United States and the world. We plan to manufacture fast chargers complying with Buy America standards for America’s coast-to-coast EV charging network being built under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program.
Tritium is also hard at work creating charging solutions specifically designed for fleet operations—light, medium, and heavy-duty commercial vehicles and rideshare cars and vans. We know fleet vehicles have different requirements than consumer and commuter vehicles. Some need to be recharged multiple times a day, others only need to be charged at night. The correct charging application for your fleet can drastically reduce capital expenditure and save hundreds of thousands in site construction costs.
Last, Tritium will continue to expand our workforce, providing jobs in manufacturing, engineering, customer success, sales, and marketing. And of course, we will continue to manufacture and deliver DC fast chargers for a wide range of applications, including highway, fleets, utilities, retail and marine. We look forward to helping our customers and the world electrify transportation in 2023.
Updated February 2023
In November 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), which provides $1.2 trillion for roads, bridges, mass transit, and other projects through 2026. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program is part of that bill and provides $5 billion in funding to help build a coast-to-coast network of direct current (DC) fast chargers. All 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico are participating in the NEVI program, which will electrify more than 75,000 miles of the national highway system.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced new national standards for federally funded EV chargers on February 15, 2023. These standards define requirements for connector types, payment methods, data privacy, speed and power of chargers, reliability, and the overall charging experience.
Here are some general standards for the public charging network built with NEVI funding:
In addition, chargers purchased and installed with NEVI and Discretionary Grants funds must meet FHWA Buy America standards, which ensure key components are made in America and chargers are assembled in America. Buy America standards include:
Lastly, the FHWA and the Biden administration are encouraging manufacturers and installers to work with the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP). Through the White House Talent Pipeline Challenge (Tritium is a participant), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has certified 20,000 electricians through EVITP.
The FHWA and US Department of Transportation have posted a final rule that establishes regulations setting minimum standards and requirements for NEVI-funded charging sites. These requirements cover everything from installation to data connections. The full list can be found on the US government website here, but here are some of the most important requirements:
Altogether, the vast network of charging sites will be able to charge millions of EVs and help move the US to a cleaner, electrified future. “A century ago, America ushered in the modern automotive era; now America must lead the electric vehicle revolution,” said US Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at a press event. “The President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help us win the EV race by working with states, labor, and the private sector to deploy a historic nationwide charging network that will make EV charging accessible for more Americans.”
According to consulting firm The Brattle Group, there could be as many as 35 million EVs in the US by 2030, and those vehicles will need up to 2 million public chargers. NEVI will give states the funds to purchase and install those chargers, but it’s up to the EV charging industry to build and install them.
Tritium is opening a manufacturing facility in Tennessee that is expected to be capable of producing more than 10,000 DC fast chargers per year, with the potential to produce about 30,000 units per year at peak capacity. The facility will employ more than 500 people over the next five years and chargers produced in the facility should meet FWHA Buy America requirements starting in the first quarter of 2023.
Tritium’s current NEVI solution consists of four PKM150 150kW chargers with two power rectifier units. The chargers deliver 150kW of power to four EVs simultaneously through a reliable, easily upgradeable on-site charging infrastructure.
Thanks to multiple chargers and power rectifier units, the Tritium NEVI solution provides backup charging power for higher reliability and site uptime.
Many US states will start receiving NEVI funds in Q4 2022 and they’ll be looking for NEVI-compliant charging solutions. Whether you’re a state agency, EV charger reseller, charger installer, or charging site planner, you’ll need help navigating NEVI requirements. Reach out to our experts to learn more about building and deploying NEVI-compliant DC fast charging sites.