How States Can Customize EV Charging Deployment Under NEVI

No two states will build their electric vehicle (EV) charging networks the same way. Transportation patterns, infrastructure constraints and community priorities vary across regions. 

Successful implementation of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program therefore depends on tailoring deployment to federal requirements and regional priorities. 

Based on EV infrastructure programs across the country, the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) identified five strategies to help states customize EV charger deployment under NEVI. 

1. Define state and local priorities 

Before mapping charging sites, agencies should define what success looks like in their region. While NEVI emphasizes highway corridors, states may also want to support local commuting, tourism or fleet electrification. 

Establishing goals early helps determine the right data inputs, evaluation criteria and technical parameters. Agencies can define metrics such as the share of residents within a set distance of a charger, utilization targets or deployment priorities across urban, suburban and rural communities. These benchmarks guide siting decisions and align infrastructure investments with broader goals. 

Examples:  

• California’s recent NEVI solicitations prioritized medium- and heavy-duty (MD/HD) charging along major freight corridors to support freight electrification and address persistent air quality issues.
• Maryland surveyed residents before developing its EV infrastructure plan, identifying priorities such as charging access for multiunit dwellings and fleet transitions for municipalities and small businesses. 

2. Align planning frameworks with specific use cases and technologies 

Charging infrastructure must match how drivers use vehicles. Different use cases require different charger types and locations. Typical configurations include: 

• Long-distance corridor charging: Direct-current fast chargers (DCFCs) along highways and major freight or commuter routes.
• Destination charging: Level 2 chargers at workplaces, retail centers and parking structures.
• Residential charging: Charging options in communities with limited home charging access, especially multifamily housing areas.
• Fleet charging: Chargers at depots or logistics hubs sized to match route lengths and vehicle dwell times. 

When developing NEVI plans, agencies should analyze trip patterns, dwell times and grid capacity so charger types align with driver behavior and site feasibility. Collaboration with regional planning organizations can also help prioritize investments. 

Examples:  

• Pennsylvania structured its NEVI program around three focus areas: Corridor Connections for highway travel, Community Charging for residential and local destinations, and Critical Investments for specialized use cases such as park-and-ride locations or heavy-duty vehicle depots.
• New York issued separate NEVI solicitations for different regions, prioritizing highway corridors upstate while emphasizing destination charging in the New York metropolitan region. 

3. Engage stakeholders early and often 

Building a NEVI charging network requires coordination across transportation agencies, utilities, site hosts, technology providers and local governments. Early engagement helps identify challenges and clarify partner roles. To keep projects on schedule, set expectations for permitting, interconnection timelines and data sharing. 

Formal advisory groups that bring together local governments, businesses and community organizations can help identify siting barriers and align infrastructure plans with local goals. 

Examples:  

• Colorado holds regular EV coalition meetings where stakeholders across sectors discuss state grant programs and deployment challenges.
• South Carolina’s SC+EV initiative included a public stakeholder process before developing the state’s NEVI solicitation.  

4. Partner with community-based organizations 

While stakeholder engagement often focuses on industry and institutional partners, community-based organizations (CBOs) deserve dedicated attention. With local trust and knowledge of community priorities, CBOs can help agencies understand where people drive, where they park, and which locations are most convenient and safe. 

Building these partnerships requires planning. Agencies should designate a point of contact, provide training on program goals and compensate organizations for their participation. Integrating CBO engagement into project budgets and timelines helps ensure their input informs planning from the start. (For tips, see our Guide to Collaborating with CBOs.)  

Example:  

• As part of California’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, CSE convened a statewide network of community partners to raise awareness of EV benefits and available incentives. The program’s outreach dashboard tracked engagement across events and audiences. 

5. Measure, learn and adjust program design 

Customization continues after chargers are installed. Collecting and analyzing implementation data helps agencies refine deployment strategies and adjust as conditions evolve.  

Tracking charger uptime, utilization and geographic distribution, including deployment in underserved communities, can reveal where to expand, upgrade or adjust incentives. Publicly sharing this information helps stakeholders understand program progress. 

Examples:  

• In California, agencies reviewed lessons from early NEVI solicitations and utility interconnection challenges and encouraged applicants to use utility tools to identify sites with available electrical capacity.
• States and utilities are using CSE’s Caret EV Charging Knowledgebase to securely aggregate and analyze anonymized data to understand how, when and where EV charging is being used to inform future investments. 

Conclusion: Tailor Deployment for Impact  

Programs that adapt to local conditions, engage diverse partners and match technology to real-world use are more likely to succeed. By combining statewide planning with local expertise—from transportation agencies and utilities to regional planners and community organizations—states can build EV charging networks that maximize NEVI investment and meet drivers’ needs. 

• State DOTs can get CSE’s NEVI Playbook for more detailed guidance based on CSE’s experience administering the largest state EV infrastructure program in the nation. 
• Want to see how data can power your state’s NEVI plan? Contact CSE at consult@energycenter.org.  
• Read more articles in this series.