US government accepting charging station applications

In what is likely to create a boost in copper wiring demand, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has opened the application process for its multi-billion-dollar program to fund electric vehicle (EV) charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure.

The funding, tied to the federal infrastructure bill from late 2021, is available for charging stations “in communities across the country and along designated highways, interstates and major roadways,” the DOT says.

The DOT’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program will provide $2.5 billion over five years to a range of applicants, including cities, counties, local governments and tribes. The initial round, now open for applicants, will comprise up to $700 million from fiscal years 2022 and 2023, according to the department.

Charging station manufacturer Blink Charging Co., based in Miami, expressed enthusiasm toward the announcement. “We support the administration's push toward reliable electric vehicle charging nationwide, and believe that Level 2 chargers at the community level are an essential and economical way to ensure equal access to all Americans,” says Michael D. Farkas, board chair and CEO of the company.

In a comment that points to potential future demand for copper wiring, Farkas adds, “Blink manufactures our National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure- (NEVI-) compliant Level 2 chargers in Bowie, Maryland, where we are expanding manufacturing capabilities. We applaud the administration's new standards for a made-in-America national network for EV chargers and look forward to seeing more charging access and equitability nationwide.”

Charging station configurations can vary greatly, with the Washington-based International Copper Association saying in an earlier assessment that EV chargers can contain from 1.5 to 17.5 pounds of copper each, depending on the size and wattage.

A 2022 analysis by the London office of Fitch Ratings predictes the anticipated “energy transition” will significantly increase demand for metals used in manufacturing EVs and renewable power generation, with aluminum, copper, nickel, cobalt and lithium among metals in greater demand.

The CFI Discretionary Grant Program is tied to a $5 billion NEVI Formula Program. EV chargers constructed with CFI funds must adhere to those same standards, a requirement that supports what DOT calls “a consistent charging experience for users and ensures that our national charging network is convenient, reliable and made in America.”

The NEVI and CFI programs will create what the DOT calls “good-paying jobs across the country, as more workers are needed to install and maintain EV charging stations, and both programs will help put the country on a path to a nationwide network of 500,000 EV chargers by 2030.”

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm says, “Ensuring that charging stations are more visible and accessible in our communities addresses the concerns many American drivers have when considering making the switch to electric.”

The DOT says eligible applicants and projects for both categories are outlined in a Notice of Funding Opportunity that can be found on this web page. Applications are due by May 30, 2023.