Texas electric vehicle planning

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.

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.

Plans approved

The Texas Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan and Phase 1 Implementation Plan have been approved by the Federal Highway Administration.

• Texas Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan – Approval Letter
• Phase 1 - Texas Electric Vehicle Implementation Plan – Approval Letter

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Grants

TxDOT has developed a competitive grant program to administer the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program in Texas. Currently, the grant program is re-opening the application window for thirty-five (35) study areas along the Phase 1 Electric - Alternative Fuel Corridors.

This round opens on September 16, 2024, and closes on October 28, 2024.

Use the following grant program documents to apply:

• Request for Grant Applications (RFGA) & program FAQ
• Grant Application
• Cyber Security Form
• NEPA Clearance Form
• Site Host Form

Please note that physical documents will not be accepted. 

Additionally, TxDOT expects to contract with private entities for the installation, operation, and maintenance of EV charging infrastructure. The private entity will expect to pay the state’s share of the cost of a funded project and no state funds will be used for the construction, operation, or maintenance of stations. TxDOT will not own or operate any charging equipment and any contracts under the NEVI formula program will be awarded on a competitive basis.

Questions about the program can be emailed to TxDOT_NEVI@txdot.gov.

Results will be published at the following links.

• Texas EV Charging Grant Program Results
• Texas Application Summary
   

Texas EV Plan – program addendum

Corrections to program documents can be found in the program addendum.  The program addendum will be updated on a weekly basis, every Monday morning. 

• Program Addendum
  
  

Phase 1 – Grant program results

TxDOT has completed the scoring and selection process for Phase 1 of the Texas Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Program and has begun planning for the first 50 EV charging sites across Texas. 

• Texas EV Charging Grant Program Results
• Texas Application Summary
• Phase One Dashboard
• Video overview of the results 

Questions about the program can be emailed to TxDOT_NEVI@txdot.gov.

EV infrastructure grants – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The FAQ from round one will be posted below as a resource.

• Texas EV Implementation Plan FAQ

Resources

Resources are available to help visualize the Alternative Fuel Corridors, 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 (View alternative fuel corridors, study areas and charging stations)
• TxDOT Open Data Portal (Data available in multiple formats)
• Public NEVI Planning Map (Includes transmission lines and EV study areas)
• Tips for EV Drivers

Preparation for potential site hosts

Until guidance from TxDOT is available on contracting 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.
  • DC Fast Charge equipment and software companies
• Begin familiarizing yourself with FHWA requirements and proposed rulemaking for DC Fast Charge stations.
  • National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program -Fact Sheets
  • Electric Vehicles
  • The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program Guidance

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 the Texas Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan.
• Questions about the program or plan can be sent to TxDOT_NEVI@txdot.gov.
• TxDOT added layers to the Statewide Planning Map to assist with planning across the state.
  • Overlays
    • Alt Fuel – Electric
    • Disadvantaged Census Tracts
• 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 at DriveElectric.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