National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) remains committed to the installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program.

NEVI funds are initially directed to designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) to help build a national network of EV charging infrastructure. AFCs in Illinois are located along most Interstates. To be considered fully built-out, EV chargers must be spaced at a maximum distance of 50 miles apart and within one mile of the AFC.

EV chargers installed as part of this first phase are Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC). DCFCs require more power than is typically found in a residential system and can charge an EV from empty to 80 percent in 30 minutes. DCFCs installed during the initial buildout must provide at least four charging ports with a minimum of 150 kW of power simultaneously across all ports. DCFCs must be available 24 hours a day and maintain a 97% annual uptime..

Once AFCs are fully built out, IDOT will move to the next phase of NEVI, which allows for construction of DCFC and Level 2 chargers throughout the state. Level 2 chargers are typically 240V and more common for home, workplace, and public charging. Level 2 chargers can charge an EV from empty to 80 percent from empty in 4-10 hours.

NEVI requires IDOT to submit an EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan on an annual basis to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). These plans detail the state’s approach to deploying public charging infrastructure that provides convenient, accessible, reliable, and equitable electric vehicle charging throught the state. 

IDOT is in the initial system build-out phase and has conducted two application rounds for NEVI. Updates on each funding round are provided below, starting with the most recent.

On September 17th 2025 Governor JB Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and the Illinois Department of Transportation today announced that $18.4 million in grants is being awarded to build 25 charging stations for electric vehicles along interstate corridors. The funding is made possible through the second round of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, which is helping to invest in communities and generate economic development while advancing the state's goal to have a million EVs registered in Illinois by 2030.

The 25 projects throughout the state were chosen via a competitive call for projects held last fall and will include a total of 167 new charging ports.  All of the awards are contingent on the selected recipients entering into a grant agreement with IDOT. 

On September 9, 2024, Gov. JB Pritzker and IDOT announced $25.3 million in grants to build charging stations along AFC corridors through the initial round of funding made available from the NEVI program. In addition to making travel by EV more reliable and accessible, the funding advances Gov. Pritzker’s continuing commitment to make the state an industry leader and fight climate change by putting one million EVs on Illinois roads by 2030.  

A total of 37 projects throughout the state were chosen in the first round of NEVI , which will facilitate the construction of 182 new charging ports. Selected locations will have at least four DC fast charging ports each of which can fully charge a typical EV from empty in less than 30 minutes. IDOT is committed to projects with a fully executed grant agreement made to their selected recipients. 

First Round NEVI Conditional Awards List

Resources:

FHWA NEVI web page