Texas Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan
As required by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, TxDOT submitted its Texas Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan to the federal Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. The submitted Plan can be found below.
Review
TxDOT will continue to be open to questions and comments as it continues the NEVI program, and those can be submitted online. We encourage the public to periodically visit this site for updates on new locations, FAQs, and further planning updates as the program progresses. TxDOT thanks the public for its extensive input on the Plan and looks forward to working with you as it develops. We also encourage you to explore the links below to find further details and interactive information about the progress of electric vehicle charging capabilities across the state.
Plan approved
The Texas Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan has been approved by the Federal Highway Administration. More to come over the next few months as we transition from plan to implementation.
Implementation Plan Update
TxDOT is coordinating with FHWA (Texas Division) for approval of the Texas Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Implementation Plan. All updates on the process will be posted to this page. We will continue responding to questions about the plan and the proposed process at [email protected]. We are also adding contacts to the list of
DC
Fast Charge equipment and software companies upon request. Please subscribe for updates to this page to be notified of future announcements.
Resources
Resources are available to help visualize the Alternative Fuel Corridors, and existing charging stations, obtain EV driving tips, and EV charging study areas:
- EV Program Story Map(Narrative and geographic information about the program)
- Phase One Dashboard(Dashboard to track progress on the first 56 sites)
- Texas Charging Stations Dashboard(Summary of existing charging stations in Texas)
- Texas Statewide EV Registration Tool(North Central Texas Council of Governments)
- Interactive Map(Suggest charging stations locations on this map)
- EV Charging Survey(Provide your feedback on EV use)
- Statewide Planning Map (Under “Overlays,” select “Alt Fuels – Electric”)
- TxDOT Open Data Portal(Data available in multiple formats)
- Public NEVI Planning Map(Includes transmission lines and EV study areas)
- Tips for EV Drivers
Information for potential owners/operators
Final details are still under development and subject to change, but TxDOT would like to share the following high-level information for potential owners/operators of DC Fast Charge stations on the Alternative Fuel Corridors. Additional details on these topics and others will be added to this site as they become available.
- TxDOT will not require bonding for DC Fast Charge locations
- TxDOT will require insurance for the DC Fast Charge locations
- Charging locations require Environmental Clearance
- Per FHWA requirements, locations are considered Categorical Exclusions with clearance provided by the TxDOT Environmental Affairs Division
- Per FHWA requirements, charging locations will be added to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP)
- High-level order of operations
- Joint Office of Energy and Transportation approves the Texas EV Plan
- 55 locations on the Alternative Fuel Corridors are added to the STIP
- FHWA obligates NEVI funds to TxDOT
- TxDOT issues a call for proposals
- Proposals evaluated
- Vendor(s) selected
- EV Study Areas verified, and sites selected (alternates provided by the vendor if needed)
- Vendor works with TxDOT to receive Environmental Clearance
- Construction begins
- 80% reimbursement request for station construction as part of the NEVI program will be paid after the location is 100% operable and open to the public
- Site hosts can submit Operations (electricity charges) and Maintenance reimbursement requests on a quarterly basis
- Operations and maintenance funding is capped at 25 percent of installation cost
- After two consecutive quarters of self-sustainability, funding for operations will end (maintenance will continue until the 5-year term ends or the funds for the location are exhausted)
- Self-sustainability is defined as fees paid by users of the charging station being greater than or equal to the cost of electricity (including demand charges) during a billing cycle
- Operations and Maintenance 5-year term begins when the station opens to the public
- Site usage statistics (that meet federal requirements) reported to TxDOT quarterly
- Site hosts and equipment operators will set usage fees for DC Fast Charge stations
- It is expected that owners/operators will offer competitive market rates to station users
- Site owners/operators will retain fees paid by users and submit reimbursement requests for operations (electricity charges) until the station becomes self-sustaining or funds/time are expended.
Preparation for potential site hosts
Until guidance from TxDOT is available on contract for the Texas EV program, property owners or potential site hosts can perform several tasks (at their own cost) to prepare for the submission process. Please note any costs incurred before a grant is awarded are not eligible for reimbursement.
- Perform an electrical site assessment to determine if upgrades are necessary to support a minimum of 4 DC Fast Charge CCS connectors rated at 150kW per connector.
- Verify your property or potential host location is within a TxDOT EV Study Area. If outside an EV Study Area but on the Alternative Fuel Corridors, you will need to prepare a solid argument on why your location should be considered.
- View EV Study Areas on the Statewide Planning Map (turn on the Alt Fuel – Electric Overlay)
- Begin researching the permitting and inspection process in your municipality and county.
- Texas Association of Counties
- TML City Officials Directory
- Begin researching and communicating with DC Fast Charge equipment manufacturers.
- Begin familiarizing yourself with FHWA requirements and proposed rulemaking for DC Fast Charge stations.
Preparation for county seats, cities, MPOs
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure development with our planning partners in County Seats, Cities, and MPOs is dependent on the Alternative Fuel Corridors timeline. The planning process for NEVI off the AFC will begin after EV charging implementation activities on the AFC are underway. The following list contains useful information for planning and preparation purposes.
- Planning partners should review theTexas Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan.
- Questions about the program or plan can be sent to [email protected].
- TxDOT added layers to the Statewide Planning Map to assist with planning across the state.
- Overlays
- Alt Fuel – Electric
- Disadvantaged Census Tracts
- Overlays
- EV charging development in rural and urban areas will begin after the Alternative Fuel Corridors are complete.
- Statewide Planning and Research (SPR) funds will be made available to MPOs to help plan the rollout of EV charging in urban areas.
- The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation provides multiple resources to assist with NEVI planning.
- Access the main page atDriveElectric.gov
- Use the Joint Office Contact page to ask questions and establish communication with support staff
- Tools, Data, and Resources to assist with planning
- NEVI Formula Program Guidance
- FAQ
Federal laws and rules
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law on Nov. 15, 2021, established the NEVI Formula Program. NEVI will provide funding to states to deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure along public roads to establish an interconnected network across the state and nation. For fiscal years 2022-2026, Texas will receive $407.8 million. The funds will be split 80 percent federal, and 20 percent state.
To receive the funds, TxDOT submitted its Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan on July 28, 2022, to the Joint Office describing how it will use its NEVI funds. Per federal
NEVI guidance issued in February, TxDOT divisions collaborated with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the State Energy Conservation Office at the Texas Comptroller to create the Deployment Plan.
On June 22, 2022, the Federal Highway Administration provided additional draft guidance for comment regarding minimum standards and requirements associated with the installation, operation, and maintenance of EV charging infrastructure.
Governor’s guidance
In support of the Texas Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan, Governor Greg Abbott issued a letter requesting that TxDOT lead the way in developing a plan to ensure all Texans have access to the EV infrastructure with a focus on rural placement and connectivity.
- Letter from Governor – March 22, 2022
Collaboration and engagement
In TxDOT’s commitment to involving the public and interested parties, public involvement for NEVI began on March 25, 2022, with the launch of this webpage, a Public Involvement Plan, and a Social Pinpoint online engagement site
. The site – click on the image to the right – features surveys and an interactive map where comments can be posted and charging sites suggested. The site will be maintained throughout the NEVI Program to gather input. All comments submitted from the public or interested parties were incorporated into the Appendix of the Plan.
Other key public involvement dates:
- May 23, 2022 – Facebook and Twitter announcements
- May 23, 2022 – Email distributed to known stakeholders on the Draft Texas Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan
- June 7, 2022 – Virtual Public Meeting
- June 10, 2022 – Public meeting announcements (Twitter and Facebook)
- June 14, 2022 – Multi-state tribal outreach and consultation
- June 22, 2022 – Comment deadline for Virtual Public Meeting
NEVI Formula Program timeline
FAQ
Q: Are funds available as rebates to purchase EVs or convert traditional internal combustion engines?
A: No, the NEVI Program provides funding to states to deploy EV charging infrastructure along public roads. For information on state rebates and federal tax credits, please see the “Financial” section of TxDOT’s webpage on Tips for EV Drivers in Texas.
Q: Isn’t there also a grant program?
A: Yes, the IIJA established a new $2.5 billion discretionary grant program to deploy publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, propane fueling infrastructure, and natural gas fueling infrastructure. There are two components: Corridor Charging Grants and Community Charging Grants. Additional guidance and information on the Corridor and Community Charging Programs will be forthcoming in guidance from FHWA by November 15, 2022.
Q: What about large EV trucks that haul freight?
A: Federal
NEVI
guidance currently defines EVs to include “passenger cars and light trucks.” Future needs for EV charging stations may consider medium-and heavy-duty EVs as well as shared mobility such as micro-transit and transportation network companies. Additional guidance and information on EV freight will be forthcoming in guidance from FHWA by November 15, 2022.
