Arizona Electric Vehicle Program

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program is a $5 billion program managed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to fund a resilient, equitable, accessible, reliable national network of Level 3 EV fast charging stations along the nation’s highways.

NEVI aims to: 

• Build a resilient, equitable, accessible, reliable network
• Reduce ‘range anxiety’ by closing existing network gaps

This will be accomplished by:

• Engaging stakeholders, including the public, in all phases
• Utilizing efficient contracting and procurement processes
• Collecting data and applying metrics to ongoing planning for EV charging infrastructure
   

According to federal guidance, electric vehicle charging stations need to be spaced at least every 50 miles along highways that have been designated alternative fuel corridors (AFC), unless an exception has been granted. Arizona’s AFC are currently the Interstate highways, but other routes on the state highway system will be added and will become eligible for NEVI-funded charging stations. ADOT’s 2022 EV Plan identified locations of existing EV charging stations along the Interstate highways to determine gaps based on federal requirements. Using technical analysis and input from the public and key stakeholders, including the EV industry, ADOT proposed general locations, such as particular interchanges; however, private sector contractors will conduct additional analysis to determine the specific charging station sites.

The number of stations to be built and upgraded is being determined through the EV planning process. The inventory of existing stations and the number of new/upgraded stations will change as new highways become eligible for NEVI-funded stations and ADOT updates the EV plan.

All the sites will have CCS connectors at a minimum as required by the NEVI guidelines. NACs connectors were not required in the initial advertisement for charging stations along the Interstates since a national standard for this connector type had not yet been developed; however, private sector developers may add other connector types at their discretion. ADOT will require both the CCS and NACs connectors in future advertisements for charging stations along alternative fuel corridors.

No state funding will be used to build the EV charging station network. The charging stations will be built with 80% federal funding and a 20% private match. ADOT will administer the contracting process.

Private companies under contract with ADOT will construct and own the stations and will provide the required 20% funding match.

A charging fee will apply to use the EV charging stations. We do not know what the rates will be, as they will be set by the providers.

The NEVI formula program requires each station to have a minimum of 4 - 150 Kilowatt direct current fast chargers with combined charging system (CCS) ports. The minimum charging capacity for the whole station will be 600 Kilowatts and the station must be able to charge four electric vehicles simultaneously.

We anticipate the first charging stations will be operational in 2025.

Yes. ADOT’s EV deployment plan is evaluating existing EV charging infrastructure along the Interstates and determining gaps. NEVI funding may be used to upgrade existing EV charging infrastructure and to build new fast charging stations.

Stations are anticipated to be built approximately 12 months after their award.