Automakers urge USDOT to quickly restart federal EV charging program (updated)

Evgo

07/02/2025 21:15

(Adds details, background in paragraphs 4-9)
    By David Shepardson
       WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - A group representing
automakers and electric vehicle charging companies on Friday
urged the U.S. Transportation Department to quickly restart a $5
billion government EV infrastructure program.    
    On Thursday, the Trump administration said it was suspending
the electric vehicle charging program and rescinding approval of
state EV charging plans pending a new review.
    The Electric Drive Transportation Association, whose members
include General Motors  GM.N , Toyota  7203.T , BorgWarner
 BWA.N , EVGo  EVGO.O , Stellantis  STLAM.MI , Walmart  WMT.N 
and others, said it urged the Trump administration "to quickly
resume the critical work of the program and minimize uncertainty
for states and their businesses, who have invested in
infrastructure to serve local and national goals for advanced
transportation."
    On President Donald Trump's first day in office, he took aim
at electric vehicles, saying he was halting distribution of
unspent government funds for vehicle charging stations from the
$5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund.
        Trump also revoked a 2021 executive order signed by his
predecessor Joe Biden that sought to ensure half of all new
vehicles sold in the U.S. by 2030 were electric. Trump also
called for ending a waiver for states to adopt zero-emission
vehicle rules by 2035 and said his administration would consider
ending EV tax credits.
  
        Biden's 50% target, which was not legally binding, had
won the support of U.S. and foreign automakers.
  
        Trump has said he could take other actions on EVs,
including seeking to repeal the $7,500 consumer tax credit for
electric-vehicle purchases as part of broader tax-reform
legislation.
  
        Last week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
directed 
    U.S. regulators to rescind landmark
     fuel economy standards issued under Biden that aimed to
drastically reduce fuel use for cars and trucks as well as 
    highway climate rules
    .
  
        The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said
in June it would hike Corporate Average Fuel Economy
requirements to about 50.4 miles per gallon (4.67 liters per 100
km) by 2031 from 39.1 mpg currently for light-duty vehicles.
  

 (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese and
Marguerita Choy)
 ((David.Shepardson@thomsonreuters.com; 2028988324;))