More DC fast charging, no app sign-ups under White House’s new EV charging rules

Photo by Andrew Hawkins / The Verge

A new set of standards will be revealed by the Biden administration in order to speed up the installation of electric vehicle charging stations.

The new standards give states guidelines on awarding contracts for EV charging projects, directing the companies who get them to build chargers that are easy to use, affordable, and accessible to the broadest number of people. The types of projects that won't receive federal money include proprietary charging stations that can only be accessed by one company's vehicles.

Much of President Joe Biden's climate change agenda is stuck in Congress. $5 billion in funding was secured by the president as part of his infrastructure plan. More lucrative tax breaks for EV buyers are part of his plan.

The administration will direct $5 billion to the states to create a network of EV charging stations along the "Alternative Fuel Corridors."

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula program requires states to submit their requests by August 1st. The federal highway administration will approve eligible plans by September 30th.

The current charging experience in the US is difficult for people who don't own a car. There are more than 100,000 charging stations in the US. It can be difficult to find one that works or isn't locked inside a parking garage.

The White House wants to make sure that Americans don't get more of the same, with a fragmented network that is hard to find.

Photo by Andrew Hawkins / The Verge

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told reporters that everyone should be able to find a charging station when and where they need it. If you want to pay at a charging station, you shouldn't have to go through a bunch of apps on your phone. Everyone should be able to count on fast charging, fair pricing, and easy-to-use payment for their electric vehicle.

Every 50 miles along major highways, EV charging stations would be built, and no more than 1 mile off the road. They want states to make sure that EV charging stations are built in rural and tribal areas. They want EV charging companies to give customers real-time information so they can see when a charging station is empty. They need at least four 150 kilowatt DC fast charging ports per station to address the concerns of people who worry about the utility of electric vehicles on long journeys.

EV charging companies that receive federal funding can't require drivers to sign up for memberships in order to access stations. They wanted companies to install charging ports that could be used by everyone. Though they can only be accessed by their own customers, some EV makers are building out their own EV charging network with proprietary plugs.

According to Buttigieg, the goal is to send a market signal toward a standard charging port for stations to accommodate the widest possible set of vehicles.

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The administration is working on additional plans for residential incentives, where most EV owners will do their charging, and for those vehicle owners who live in multi-unit dwellings. The Department of Energy will get the recommendations from the EV working group.

If we are going to build out infrastructure like we haven't done since the Eisenhower era, we have to build it right, according to Energy Secretary Jen Granholm.