NEVI News

Aug 13

The U.S. Department of Transportation has just released “interim final” guidance for the NEVI (National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure) Program. This is effective August 13, 2025, and the comment period ends August 27, 2025.

This guidance offers the opportunity to streamline and speed up the deployment of the NEVI Hubs. It will be up to each State to optimize its policies regarding deployment, which is a positive. Overall, this creates the opportunity for Hawaii to accelerate its NEVI deployment.

Excerpt from the Program Guidance:

“Summary of Changes
FHWA made several changes to the previously released NEVI guidance document dated June 11, 2024. Changes include, but are not limited to:

Minimizing the content required in State plans to statutory and regulatory requirements.
Simplifying the plan approval process.
Aligning community engagement requirements with regulatory requirements and reducing the consultation requirements to advance projects.
Providing States with the flexibility to determine the appropriate distance between stations along alternative fuel corridors to allow for reasonable travel.
Minimizing requirements for States to consider electric grid integration, renewable energy, and alignment with electric distribution interconnection processes, except where required by regulation.
Encouraging selection of charging locations where the charging station owners are also the site host to accelerate project delivery.
Eliminating requirements for States to address consumer protections, emergency evacuation plans, environmental siting, resilience and terrain considerations.
Providing States with more flexibility in determining when their system is built out allowing NEVI funds to be used on public roads statewide.”

While the new guidance simplifies requirements, allows more flexible hub siting and spacing, and streamlines community engagement and deployment timelines, there are potential consequences to consider.

Potential Consequences

Removal of consumer protection and safety requirements might result in projects overlooking safety and environmental impacts.

States are no longer expected to consider electric‑grid integration or renewable‑energy alignment unless other regulations require it. This may result in strain on the grid and less focus on renewables as energy sources.
The provision requiring siting in rural or disadvantaged communities is not in the revised guidance. This could result in fewer services to rural and underserved communities.
The new guidance removes prevailing‑wage labor standards and could reduce protections for workers.
Relaxation of the distance requirements (hubs needing to be 50 miles apart) may result in less-than-ideal spacing of chargers.
Reduced community engagement might result in suboptimal placement of the charging hubs.

Thankfully, these concerns are mitigated in Hawaii, based on the Hawaii Department of Transportation’s progress with its deployment of the program, Hawaii’s policies and mandates, the nature of our roadways, and the largely rural make-up of the archipelago.

Public Comment Option

In summary, the updated guidance speeds deployment, but several of the provisions may result in undesired consumer, labor, and environmental consequences. These would ultimately be left to each State to manage.

For more information and to submit public comment, visit the Federal Register page: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/13/2025-15370/national-electric-vehicle-infrastructure-formula-program-guidance

The comment period ends August 27, 2025.