Driving Florida Forward: Why Federal EV Funding is Vital

The United States stands at a pivotal moment in transportation innovation, with nearly 8 million electric vehicles (EVs) sold and 178 models available. Florida ranks second in the nation for EV registrations. And its role as a major state for tourism and vehicle travel positions it well to benefit from the shift to electric transportation. J.D. Power reports that nearly 60% of new-vehicle shoppers are considering an EV, but reliable access to charging remains a major barrier to adoption. Congress must continue to invest in EV charging infrastructure by maintaining current funding levels in the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization (STR) bill.

Programs like the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Grant Program  were established by the last STR bill to build a robust, nationwide, accessible EV charging network. For Florida, a state with rapid increases in EV registrations, these funds are essential for addressing charging gaps—most severe in the state’s rural regions, north-central Florida, and along certain evacuation routes.

Economic Competitiveness and Job Creation

Sustained investment in EV charging infrastructure is not just an environmental priority—it is a matter of national security and economic competitiveness. Unlike volatile global oil prices, the electricity market is almost entirely domestic, so electricity prices tend to be more stable and predictable for consumers, insulating drivers from price spikes at the pump.

Furthermore, this investment supports hundreds of thousands of American jobs. In Florida, initiatives are already underway to train workers, such as at Indian River State College, which offers a Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Maintenance certificate to prepare a skilled workforce for EV installation and maintenance. Lively Technical College in Tallahassee is developing a Battery Electric Vehicle program to meet growing demand for specialized technicians. By supporting EV infrastructure and innovation, we also maintain the ability to compete with adversaries like China in the increasingly electric global automotive market.

The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Program

The CFI program has successfully catalyzed an expansion of light-duty EV charging in and between the nation’s communities through its community and corridor charging grants. The program in Florida has been well- received, but maintaining consistent federal funding is essential to ensure that Florida’s transportation infrastructure keeps pace with market demand.  

CFI Funding in Florida:

• The City of Tallahassee's StarMetro was awarded $11.3 million in federal grants in July 2024 to advance its goal of a 100% battery-electric bus fleet.

• The Orlando Utility Commission has applied for $70 million in federal CFI grants for charging hubs along State Road 528/Beachline Expressway and has already opened a major hub at the Orange County Convention Center. 

• The Tampa Police Department secured nearly $1 million in federal grant funding for 13 new electric police vehicles.

• Hollywood, Florida, was awarded nearly $5 million for 154 charging ports in 2025, but the project remains stalled due to federal funding freezes. 

• The City of Jacksonville, Jacksonville Electric Authority, and Florida State College at Jacksonville received a $2.8 million grant to install 100 EV chargers across public spaces and FSCJ campuses to address the region's EV infrastructure gap.  The project is currently on hold while CFI funding is frozen. 

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program

The creation of a national network of EV charging infrastructure is paramount to supporting a safe and reliable transportation future. To ensure that charging infrastructure keeps pace with an increasingly electrified freight and passenger vehicle stock, Congress should reauthorize the NEVI and CFI programs with a minimum total funding of $7.5 billion over five years—the level at which they were previously funded. While only a fraction of the NEVI program’s initial funds has been spent, it has already helped spur more than $42 billion in additional private, public, and utility investments in charging infrastructure.

Federal EV Tax

Congress should ensure that all drivers contribute fairly to the Highway Trust Fund, regardless of the fuel their vehicle uses. The Fund’s declining revenue is largely due to the improving fuel efficiency of gas-powered cars and the failure to index gas taxes to inflation; attempting to bridge the gap with punitive taxes on EV drivers is, at best, inadequate, and at worst, actively harmful.  A long-term solution requires Congress to adopt a fuel-neutral funding mechanism that ensures all drivers contribute to the Fund without unfairly penalizing one driver over another based on the vehicle’s powertrain.   

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Mary Linn is based in Orlando where she is the campaign organizer for the Electrification Coalition.