The Biden administration released new standards for its planned electric vehicle charging national network, with its ultimate goal to establish 500,000 EV chargers across U.S. highways by 2030.
There are currently over 130,000 public chargers in the U.S., according to the White House.
Passed under administration's Build Back Better agenda--which aims to rebuild the middle class through boosting domestic manufacturing and investments in climate initiatives--the recent $1 trillion bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $7.5 billion in EV charging.
The White House has now updated what qualifes for funding under the bill, with requirements including that all EV chargers funded through government investments must be fully built in the U.S. That means that all final assembly and manufacturing for any iron or steel charger housing must take place domestically, The White House also requires at least 55% of all EV charger components to be American made by July 2024.
All chargers also are required to use a standardized payment system that enables payments from smartphones without multiple accounts or apps, must be easy to locate through mapping applications like Apple
Moreover, all chargers are required to use the dominant U.S. standard for charging connectors, known as "Combined Charging System" or CCS. This is a notable issue for EV leader Tesla
In effort to work with the White House, and qualify for funding, Tesla will update at least 7,500 chargers in its U.S. network to be compatible with all EVs by the end of 2024, the White House said. All EV drivers will be able to locate and access the Tesla chargers through the company's smartphone app or website, and at least 3,500 new and existing chargers will be along U.S. highways. Tesla also plans to double its nationwide EV charger network, with the chargers being manufactured in Buffalo, New York.
"In building our EV charging network, we have to ensure that as many chargers work for as many drivers as possible," Biden wrote on Twitter. "To that end, [Elon Musk] will open a big part of [Tesla's] network up to all drivers. That's a big deal, and it'll make a big difference."
Tesla isn't the only automaker looking to benefit from the Biden administration's spending package. Detroit automaker General Motors
Hertz
Electric services company ChargePoint
Ford