Contact: Noah Barnes, Electrification Coalition
nbarnes@electrificationcoalition.org, (202) 461-2371
RALEIGH — The Electrification Coalition (EC) applauds the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for publishing the North Carolina Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Development Plan. This comprehensive plan is the NCDOT’s guide on how it will administer the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program funds created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with the goal of deploying a statewide electric vehicle (EV) charging network and building EV charging infrastructure along its alternative fuel corridors to accelerate North Carolina’s electric mobility future.
North Carolina is estimated to receive $109 million of NEVI program funding over the next five years. The EC commends North Carolina for creating an aggressive state plan, which represents a significant investment in the future of electric transportation. In doing so, North Carolina will boost its economy and ensure that EV drivers can travel across the state with ease and confidence. The investment will also bring new EV charging stations to rural and disadvantaged communities across the state.
“North Carolina is taking a critical step toward ensuring that all of its communities have greater access to EV charging infrastructure,” said Ben Prochazka, executive director of the EC. “We have long supported policies and programs in North Carolina to advance EV adoption. We are excited to see the Tar Heel State continue its dedication to transportation electrification, which will reduce our dependence on oil and the associated national and economic security risks.”
“To maximize this historic investment, we urge North Carolina’s leaders to prioritize bold policies that will take advantage of the state’s critical potential role in domestic electric vehicle manufacturing,” said Prochazka. “A strong North Carolina economy depends on state leaders passing additional policies to facilitate the widespread and rapid adoption of EVs so that North Carolina’s communities can access the benefits of transportation electrification.”
To complement NC’s plan and serve as a regional and national transportation electrification leader, the EC urges North Carolina to take the following policy actions:
- Demonstrate proactive leadership: Policymakers should prioritize key manufacturing incentives and other policies that establish North Carolina as a hub for domestic EV supply chain manufacturing, leveraging the state’s legacy of research, innovation, and light-duty manufacturing to be leaders in the industry. Proactive leadership is needed to ensure the state remains competitive and does not fall behind its geographic neighbors.
- Increase consumer and business access to EVs: Leaders need to ensure all types of EVs are available in the state by adopting significant policies that will expand the freedom of consumers to buy the EV of their choice.
- Invest in disadvantaged communities (DACs): The EC commends North Carolina’s commitment to equity as a critical factor in determining funding and infrastructure planning. To further the goals of equity outlined in the state’s NEVI plan the NCDOT and other state agencies need to maintain channels of open dialogue with electric transportation advocates, civil rights groups, and rural and historically underserved populations.
- Embrace medium- and heavy-duty electrification by adopting the Advanced Clean Truck Rule: Current funding opportunities present a unique opportunity to plan for transportation needs beyond light-duty vehicles. North Carolina must take additional actions to achieve the goals of the NESCAUM medium- and heavy-duty MOU, which was signed in July 2020. The ACT Rule requires manufacturers to ensure that zero-emission vehicles—rather than heavily polluting, diesel-fueled trucks—comprise an increasing percentage of sales of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles over time. ACT, along with additional complementary policies outlined in the MOU Action Plan would continue to help North Carolina set and meet electrification goals across all vehicle types.
- Continue elevated regional coordination: North Carolina’s continued efforts to align its investments with regional partners, like the neighboring departments of transportation (DOTs) in partnership with regional utilities and rural electric cooperatives to advance a more reliable charging network for North Carolinians to travel throughout the region.
Fostering these investments in the future of electric transportation will benefit North Carolina’s economy and signal to the global automotive industry North Carolina’s growing commitment to and leadership in transportation electrification.
With over a decade of experience developing and deploying cutting-edge tools and resources to support the mass adoption of electric vehicles, the EC is a trusted partner supporting states, local governments, and communities across the country with the policies and projects to drive our electric transportation future. The EC is ready to build on its work in North Carolina to support the efficient, effective, and equitable deployment of charging infrastructure through the NEVI state plan.
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About the Electrification Coalition: The Electrification Coalition is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advances policies and actions to facilitate the widespread deployment of electric vehicles in order to overcome the economic, public health, and national security challenges that stem from America’s dependence on oil. For more information, visit electrificationcoalition.org.