What This Means for You
- $100 million in federal funding will support public EV chargers in Pennsylvania communities.
- Southeastern Pennsylvania counties will be first to apply for funding.
- Local planners will help determine specific charger locations.
WEST CHESTER, PA — Pennsylvania will direct $100 million in federal funding to build public electric vehicle charging stations in communities across the Commonwealth, beginning in Southeastern Pennsylvania .
The funding marks the launch of the “Community Charging” phase of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, or NEVI, program. NEVI is a federally funded initiative designed to expand EV charging networks along highways and within local communities.
“Community charging is the culmination of an extraordinary effort by the Shapiro Administration to deliver accessible EV infrastructure to PA travelers,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said.
Where Funding Starts
The first round of funding will focus on Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. Approximately $34 million will be available for projects in those counties.
Local transportation planning agencies will identify priority areas within the region, though any publicly accessible location is eligible to apply.
“This is a very exciting and meaningful investment for communities across Chester County,” said Josh Maxwell, chair of the Chester County Board of Commissioners, noting the county has more EV registrations than any other in Pennsylvania.
Additional funding rounds are expected to open later in 2026 for western, eastern, and central regions of the state.
Program Impact and Progress
The Community Charging phase builds on $54 million already committed to public charging stations through the NEVI program.
Pennsylvania leads the nation in stations built using NEVI funds, with 29 completed stations representing a $17 million investment. Another 54 stations are in planning or construction.
Since the first Pennsylvania NEVI station opened in December 2023, those stations have supported more than 80,000 charging sessions and an estimated 9.6 million miles driven, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 2,000 metric tons.
“The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission applauds PennDOT’s leadership in expanding community charging facilities throughout southeastern Pennsylvania,” said DVRPC Executive Director Ariella Maron.
Broader Context
Officials also state that the U.S. Department of Transportation is withholding certain congressionally appropriated EV charging funds and that Governor Josh Shapiro has filed legal action related to those funds.
PennDOT said the Community Charging phase is designed to expand neighborhood access to charging infrastructure and support continued growth in electric vehicle adoption.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.