American department Transport has ordered states to kill its implementation plans National power vehicle infrastructure programAccording to a memorandum viewed by Wired. This decision stops in its track at a $ 5 billion program which is designed to fund state projects. electric vehicle Charging Station in the United States.
Federal Highway Administration officials, who manage the program, ordered the state transport directors to “decartify”. Schemes of all 50 states It has been used to underline where and how they will form their charging stations, and with which companies they will contract to do so. States have followed schemes that build more than 30 charging stations across the US, there are hundreds more on the way.
The survey shows that potential car buyers cite the country's leggings electric vehicle charging infrastructure as they are as a major reason they will not buy electricity. Established by Navy Program Basic structure law of 2021The government's response to those concerns was. it Attempt to make charger With thousands of miles of the federal highway, with focus on places that may not be able to financially support a charger.
Memo says that transport officer in president Donald Trump's The administration will write all new guidance for the program, which will then pass through a public comment period. The timeline suggests that the work can be worked on a federal-funded electric vehicle charger network for months.
The order can be illegal. This trump can face court orders seeking a funding to “unfriends” that prevents federal funds from flowing for state agencies. It can also violate the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires agencies to follow legal procedures before taking action.
“There is no legal basis for states for states for the construction of projects based on funds,” says Andrew Rogers, former Deputy Administrator and Chief Advocate of Federal Highway Administration.
The US dot did not immediately respond to the remarks request.
It is not clear how the dot's order will affect charging stations that are under construction. In the letter, FHWA officials wrote that “there may be no new obligation,” suggesting that state can not sign new contracts with businesses, even though those states have been allocated federal financing. . The letter also states that “reimbursement of existing obligations will be allowed” as the program undergoes a review process, suggesting that states may be allowed to pay businesses that already services. Have provided
Arabs have already been distributed under the program in federal funding. Money has gone to both red and blue states. Last year, top funding recipients included Florida, New York, Texas, Georgia and Ohio.
Navy projects have taken more time to get out of the ground than other charging station construction as the federal government was deliberately in allocating funding to companies with track records, which can prove that they can build or operate charging stations. Are, a spokesperson of Ryan McCinon, says a spokesman Further participationA group of businesses and organizations that operate in electric vehicle charging. If Navy funding is not distributed, “businesses investing in this program will hurt the time or money,” they say.