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North Carolina is becoming a leading state for EV and battery manufacturing and charging infrastructure workforce development. Government funding and significant investment from automakers, battery suppliers, and energy companies are driving economic output growth in the state.
In total, more than 235,000 jobs have been created in the EV sector across the United States. As of August 2024, $25.35 billion in private investments has been poured into the North Carolina EV manufacturing industry, spurred by approximately $314 million in federal funding. Prominent North Carolina investments are shown on the map below.
These investments, along with recent changes in tax policy, are bolstering American manufacturing and supply chains, which is critical at a time when China has a head start in the global transition to electric transportation. Read more about how electric vehicles can benefit North Carolina.
North Carolina has taken important steps toward an electrified transportation future, with actions by the state government, local governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector, including utilities and EV-related companies.
Download our 2024 North Carolina EV Policy Landscape (PDF) to learn more about the policies, strategies, and partners that can help North Carolina accelerate electrification. This document reflects input from a wide range of on-the-ground stakeholders and builds upon the insights of previous roadmaps and guidance documents, including those developed by the EC.
In April 2024, Governor Roy Cooper outlined his budget recommendations, including a full repeal of language in last year’s budget prohibiting the Advanced Clean Trucks rule. Read the EC’s statement.
Outdated laws in North Carolina are standing in the way of consumers’ freedom to buy the vehicles of their choice. These restrictions on car and truck buyers are obstructing economic growth and blocking North Carolinians’ access to the latest automotive technologies.
Check out our Freedom to Buy Vehicles in North Carolina page for more information on the subject.
In 2021, a group of 28 business leaders signed on to a letter urging Governor Roy Cooper to accelerate the transition to electric medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) vehicles to protect North Carolina’s economy, energy security, public health, and climate.
The letter endorses the following actions:
Federal funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are key piece to ensuring fast and equitable adoption of EVs and distribution of charging infrastructure. Below is a list of awarded federal funding in North Carolina:
North Carolina was awarded $109 million over five years to implement a highway charging corridor program. The funds will be used to install fast, reliable charging every 50 miles along almost 4,000 miles of alternative fuel corridors. All charging sites will be located within a mile of a highway.
The request for proposals for this program will be released soon.
The first round of CFI grant program awardees were announced in January 2024, and North Carolina was awarded two programs:
| Program Name | Program Location | Funds Awarded | Program Type | Description |
| Public Access to EV Charging for the City of Kings Mountain | City of Kings Mountain | $822,737.31 | Community | The City of Kings Mountain will receive $822,000 to build 34 EV charging ports at five public parking areas, less than a mile from Interstate 85 and US Highway 74. Locations of the new charging stations in a rural community close to the NC-SC border, include city hall, a central business district, a public works facility and two parking lots near Exit 5 of I-85. The area is a developing tourist and recreational development that includes the Two Kings Casino owned by the Catawba Indian Nation. |
| Empower Durham: Equitable EV Charging in the City of Durham, NC – Corridor Component | City of Durham | $4,864,000.00 | Corridor | The City of Durham will receive $4.8 million to install fast charging EV ports at up to three locations in historically disadvantaged communities of the city within one mile of Interstate 40, Interstate 85, Interstate 885, and US Highway 70. The new chargers will be built along major national highways designated as Alternative Fuel Corridors and will include community outreach to educate residents about electric vehicles. |
Two rounds of Clean School Bus program funding have been awarded so far, with North Carolina receiving 145 buses in total:
Funding year | Type | District Name | Number of Buses |
2024 | Grant | Durham Public Schools | 38 |
2024 | Grant | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | 27 |
2024 | Grant | Cherokee Central Schools | 15 |
2022 | Rebate | Columbus County Schools | 9 |
2024 | Grant | Kannapolis City Schools | 8 |
2022 | Rebate | Mina Charter School of Lee County | 7 |
2022 | Rebate | Discovery Charter School | 6 |
2022 | Rebate | Bladen County Schools | 5 |
2022 | Rebate | Halifax County Schools | 4 |
2024 | Grant | Bertie County | 4 |
2024 | Grant | Maureen Joy Charter School | 4 |
2024 | Grant | Emereau Bladen Charter School | 3 |
2024 | Grant | KIPP Durham College Prep | 3 |
2024 | Grant | Cumberland County Schools | 2 |
2024 | Grant | Granville County Schools | 2 |
2024 | Grant | KIPP Halifax College Prep | 2 |
2024 | Grant | Madison County Public Schools | 2 |
2024 | Grant | Richmond County Schools | 2 |
2024 | Grant | Johnston County Schools | 1 |
2024 | Grant | Reaching All Minds Academy | 1 |
On October 4, 2023, the Electrification Coalition convened policymakers and industry representatives from across the Southeast in Charlotte, NC, to discuss issues affecting rural transportation electrification in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Areas of focus included workforce development, the role of utilities in the transition, battery recycling, and more. Click here to view speakers and relevant resources on the event page.
On May 5, 2023, the Electrification Coalition and local and state leaders met for a roundtable discussion on vehicle electrification in rural North Carolina. The purpose of the event was to offer insights into the best practices, funding opportunities, and community needs to ensure the greatest influence on electric transportation. This includes buses, fleet vehicles, and charging infrastructure in rural North Carolina. There was a particular emphasis on workforce development and job opportunities that can be created by electrification infrastructure expansion plans.
We brought together policymakers, industry experts, and advocates for a day-long bootcamp in September 2020 to accelerate EV adoption in North Carolina. See a full list of speakers, slides, and a recording of the event.
According to the fourth annual Transportation Electrification in the Southeast report, published by Atlas Public Policy in collaboration with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, North Carolina topped 70,000 electric vehicle registrations as of June 2023. Read more transportation electrification milestones from states across the Southeast in the report.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has published a guide titled Electric Vehicle Charging in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Beyond that takes readers through the different charging options in and around the park!
© 2024 ELECTRIFICATION COALITION
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Amy Malaki is the head of policy and sustainability at SkyNRG and SkyNRG Americas, pioneering global leaders in sustainable aviation fuel production and supply. Prior to SkyNRG, Amy was the associate director for the transportation portfolio at the ClimateWorks Foundation where she developed philanthropic investment strategies to advance a sustainable, equitable and low-carbon mobility system. She also pioneered the organization’s international aviation decarbonization strategy. Prior to that she focused on Asia business development at Better Place, a Silicon Valley electric vehicle network startup. She has a B.A. in Chinese and China studies from the University of Washington and an M.A. in international policy studies (energy and environment) from Stanford University.