Because the transition to sustainable transportation accelerates, the quickly rising variety of Individuals driving EVs are searching for strong and dependable charging stations for his or her electrical autos (EVs). To deal with this problem, the US federal authorities’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) grant program will play a pivotal function in supporting the event and deployment of EV charging stations and different various fueling infrastructure. Right here’s what it is advisable know in regards to the new CFI grant program.
About CFI
Created by Congress via the Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act in 2021, the CFI Program is a aggressive grant program designed to strategically deploy publicly accessible EV charging and various fueling infrastructure in city and rural areas.
By focusing on each designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) and locations the place folks dwell and work, this program goals to make fashionable and sustainable charging and fueling infrastructure available to everybody who drives an alternate gas automobile akin to an EV. With a big funding dedication of $2.5 billion over 5 years, the CFI Program gives two funding classes: the Group Charging and Fueling Grants (Group Program) and the Different Gas Hall Grants (Hall Program).
CFI and NEVI Grants
The CFI program presents aggressive grants for initiatives that complement and expand upon the initiatives of the NEVI program. It acknowledges the necessity to fill charging infrastructure gaps in various settings, together with:
- City Facilities
The CFI program goes past the main target of NEVI on various gas corridors (AFCs) by making funding obtainable for charging stations in city facilities like downtown districts. This ensures handy entry to charging infrastructure in densely populated metropolis areas. - Rural Areas
The CFI program additionally extends its attain to much less populated rural areas. Doing so helps bridge the charging infrastructure hole in these communities, guaranteeing that EV homeowners in rural areas have entry to dependable charging stations. - Deprived and Low-Earnings Communities
One of many prime priorities of the CFI program is to advertise equitable entry to electrical automobile charging infrastructure. By specializing in deprived and low-income communities, this system goals to offer alternatives for all Individuals to drive and cost EVs.
Moreover, the CFI program will increase EV charging stations and different various gas infrastructure past AFCs and into the localities throughout the nation. New various fueling stations will probably be strategically deployed in varied locations the place Individuals drive day by day, together with:
- Native Parks
Charging stations at native parks allow EV homeowners to conveniently cost their autos whereas having fun with leisure actions and outside areas. - Colleges
Putting in charging infrastructure at colleges gives a helpful useful resource for households and workers who drive EVs and showcases sustainable transportation choices to the youthful technology. - Parking Amenities
By incorporating charging stations in public parking services, the CFI program enhances accessibility for EV homeowners, encouraging EV adoption and supporting the comfort of charging whereas people go about their every day routines.
{Qualifications} for CFI Funding
Whereas the states administer the primary NEVI grant program with funds disbursed to companies, CFI is immediately administered by the US Division of Transportation. Eligible candidates for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Grant Program embody a various vary of entities, guaranteeing broad participation and engagement within the development of EV infrastructure. These eligible entities embrace states or political subdivisions of states, metropolitan planning organizations, items of native governments, particular function districts, and public authorities with a transportation perform, together with port authorities. Moreover, federally acknowledged Indian tribes, U.S. Territories, authorities, companies, and instrumentalities are additionally eligible to use.
Purposes for CFI Funding
The CFI Program is a big dedication to growing charging and fueling infrastructure by making as much as $700 million obtainable for this Discover of Funding Alternative (NOFO). The funding allocation consists of $300 million for FY 2022 and $400 million for FY 2023, guaranteeing substantial monetary help for eligible initiatives. The primary spherical of purposes has been submitted and evaluations are at present underway, whereas particulars relating to spherical two will probably be introduced quickly. Candidates are suggested to vigilantly monitor Grants.gov for any updates associated to their submission.
How Blink Helps
Blink is teaming up with municipalities and state governments which have secured CFI funding to reinforce charger accessibility in colleges, parking services, and parks. By working along with native governments pursuing comparable initiatives, Blink goals to contribute considerably to creating extra sustainable communities with higher entry to EV chargers.
Blink’s Degree 2 chargers help the day-to-day routines of EV homeowners, guaranteeing easy journeys with none inconvenience attributable to charging delays. These chargers align completely with the accessibility targets outlined by the CFI grant, permitting Blink and its companions to bridge current gaps in electrical automobile charging infrastructure.
With the invaluable help of the CFI grant program, mixed with robust partnerships from like-minded entities, the imaginative and prescient of EV accessibility may be achieved and allow EV homeowners to journey with confidence, understanding they’ve dependable charging options wherever they go.
Able to get began with internet hosting EV charging stations at your corporation or group? Click here to register for our September 5 webinar, “Perceive the Nationwide EV Infrastructure (NEVI) Program.”
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