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Note on NEVI Funding
On February 6th, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a letter suspending approval of our electric vehicle infrastructure deployment plan. Without approval this plan, no new NEVI funds can be federally obligated. All Round 1 grantees had previously been federally obligated and will not be impacted. The Department is moving forward with reviewing and prioritizing round 2 applications for implementation while actively monitoring these developments and evaluating our options for continuing this vital work.
This webpage will be updated with relevant information and guidance as it becomes available.
Charging Illinois’ Electric Vehicle Future
Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Illinois, and emissions from cars and trucks, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons, are harmful to human health and the environment. Electric vehicles (EVs), which generate no tailpipe emissions, are an important part of reducing air pollution and mitigating the effects of climate change.
The state of Illinois aims to be a leader in manufacturing and deploying EVs, setting a goal of having 1 million registered EVs in the state by 2030. Between 2019 and 2021, the governor and the legislature worked to pass several pieces of legislation that accelerate the adoption of EVs, including the multi-year capital bill Rebuild Illinois,the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), and the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois Act (REV Illinois Act). These state programs complement federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which also provides support for EV infrastructure.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is working closely with other state agencies in Illinois, including the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to implement these programs. One key responsibility for IDOT is strategically deploying EV charging stations in an interconnected network, particularly on the Illinois’ key travel corridors. This website serves as a gathering place for concerned individuals and the EV industry to engage as IDOT plans and implements state and federal programs.
Federal Electric Vehicle Investment
On November 15, 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was signed into law. IIJA provides a dedicated source of funding for transportation-related projects over the course of five years through 2026. IIJA allocates $7.5 billion to various programs to promote the adoption of EVs across the nation, including the National Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program, Electric Vehicle Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator (RAA) Program, and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program. Use the links below to learn more about federal program implementation efforts in Illinois.
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program
The NEVI Program provides $148 million in federal funding to Illinois over the course of IIJA to deploy EV charging infrastructure and establish an interconnected network. The goal is to create a national EV charging network to provide EV users with the confidence that they can travel long distances and expect reliable access to EV charging stations when needed. IDOT has conducted two NEVI funding rounds to date and have awarded NEVI funds to 37 sites.
More information can be found on IDOT’s NEVI Program webpage
Electric Vehicle Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator Program
The Electric Vehicle Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator (RAA) Program is intended to make the EV charging network more reliable. The goal of the RAA program is to repair or replace EV chargers that were non-operational as of October 12, 2023. The non-operational EV chargers were identified as unavailable in the Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuel Database Center’s (AFDC) Alternative Fueling Station Locator. RAA funding was made available through a competitive application process through FHWA. IDOT applied to repair or replace 76 unavailable EV chargers throughout Illinois. This application was selected for $7.1 million in RAA funding by FHWA following a nationwide funding solicitation in 2024.
More information can be found on IDOT’s RAA Program webpage.
Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI)
The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program is a grant program created by the IIJA. CFI Program investments will make infrastructure available to all drivers of electric, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas vehicles. There have been three nationwide application rounds for CFI to date.
More information can be found on IDOT’s CFI Program webpage.
Related Sites
- DriveElectric.gov
- Electrify Illinois
- Explaining Electric & Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles | US EPA
- Department of Energy EV Charger Map
- Chicago Clean Cities Coalition
- NASEO and AASHTO Joint site
- American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
- Reimagining Electric Vehicles (REV) Illinois Program - REV
- Electric Vehicle Rebate Program - Climate and Equitable Jobs Act
- Driving a Cleaner Illinois
