NEVI & EV Infrastructure Incentives

NEVI funds cover acquisition, installation, network connection, and ongoing operation & maintenance of EV charging stations. Eligible applicants include private companies, utilities, local governments, and tribes — any entity that can own and operate publicly accessible infrastructure.

Additionally, the updated guidance allows NEVI funds to be used for medium- and heavy-duty EV charging and upgrades to existing NEVI stations after AFC light-duty buildout is certified. This is significant for fleet operators along freight corridors.

The 30% rate requires meeting U.S. Department of Labor Prevailing Wage & Apprenticeship (PWA) requirements — meaning all construction workers must be paid prevailing wages and a percentage of labor hours must be performed by registered apprentices. For commercial DCFC projects, this is the rate to target: 30% of a $150K DCFC installation = $45,000 in credits per port.

A single item of 30C property is defined as each charging port, plus all components and labor essential to its operation (conduit, wiring, panel upgrades, etc.). A 4-port DCFC station with $120K in depreciable costs per port = up to $144,000 in total credits at the 30% PWA rate, or $28,800 at the 6% standard rate.

Tax-exempt entities (municipalities, nonprofits, universities, tribes) can access 30C via elective direct pay — effectively a cash payment from the IRS equal to the credit value. This makes 30C meaningful for public fleet operators and government-owned charging infrastructure even without tax liability.

Fleet operators who locked in contracts and payments before the September 30, 2025 deadline may still claim the credit when vehicles are placed in service. Consult your tax advisor and the IRS OBBB FAQ guidance published August 2025 for acquisition vs. placement-in-service rules.

The CFI program complements NEVI by funding chargers in places NEVI cannot reach: off-corridor community charging, workplaces, multi-unit dwellings, and underserved rural areas. Unlike NEVI, CFI applicants apply directly to FHWA rather than through their state. Community track awards have typically ranged from $50K to $300K for smaller projects, with larger corridor awards reaching into the millions.

ADECA administers both the federal NEVI formula program and a separate state-funded EV Infrastructure Program that covers charger types and locations ineligible under NEVI. State program priorities include DCFC along non-interstate corridors and Level 2 charging at workplaces, tourist destinations, shopping centers, and multi-family dwellings — all sites that fall outside NEVI's AFC-first requirements.

The state program uses a competitive reimbursement model. Each site must be submitted as a separate application. Utility contributions (make-ready, rate incentives) are allowable as match and must be documented. EVITP certification is required for installing technicians.

Georgia administers NEVI through GDOT with coordination from GEFA. The state has a strong AFC network and is anticipated to release its next NEVI solicitation in Q1–Q2 2026. Georgia's large metro population centers (Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta) combined with significant rural highway mileage make it one of the more strategically important Southern NEVI markets.

Tennessee updated its NEVI state plan following the August 2025 guidance and is anticipated to release a solicitation mid-2026. Tennessee's I-40 and I-65 corridors represent high-priority AFC gaps, particularly for east-west travel across the state. The state also benefits from TVA and Duke Energy make-ready programs depending on geography.