J. Lou, A. Ashok Dule, X. Shen, N. Hultman. (2026). "Advancing equity in electric vehicle infrastructure: Assessing charging accessibility under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program." Center for Global Sustainability, University of Maryland.
Abstract: The $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program is a central component of the Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of federal investment benefits to disadvantaged communities. However, there remains a lack of clear methodologies for measuring whether these equity goals are being achieved. This study introduces a novel approach by using household-level travel time to the nearest EV charging station as a metric of infrastructure accessibility. We analyze 476 NEVI stations across 20 states that have announced first-round awards, affecting an estimated 2.35 million households. Among NEVI-impacted households, average driving time to the nearest charging station declines substantially, with reductions ranging from 8.01 min to as little as 0.3 min across states. Distributionally, low-income households, minority groups, and urban communities experience overall improvements in accessibility. However, these gains are not uniformly distributed: low-income minority households and minority communities in urban areas see limited improvements, revealing persistent accessibility disparities. To better understand the sources of these inequities in states with weaker distributional outcomes, we examine state NEVI plan reports to identify commonly cited equity barriers and proposed solutions. Recurring challenges include limited grid capacity, insufficient road connectivity, low EV adoption and utilization rates, constrained private investment, and profitability concerns. Proposed remedies include relaxing certain NEVI standards, incentivizing EV adoption, upgrading grid infrastructure, bundling high- and low-demand sites, and adopting phased deployment strategies. Together, these findings provide policy-relevant insights to refine NEVI program implementation and underscore the need for more targeted strategies to ensure equitable benefit distribution.