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Pennsylvania is putting another $100 million in federal funding toward public EV chargers, this time targeting communities instead of highways.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has launched the Community Charging phase of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, a new round of funding meant to bring chargers into towns and cities across the state. The money will roll out region by region, starting in southeastern Pennsylvania, which includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. Around $34 million will be available for projects in that first region.
Local transportation planning agencies will decide which specific sites get priority, but any publicly accessible location in those counties can apply. PennDOT also released a survey so businesses, property owners, and organizations can connect with charging developers and operators before submitting applications.
The state says this new funding builds on $54 million already committed to public charging through NEVI. So far, Pennsylvania has 29 federally funded stations either built or under construction, costing about $17 million. Another 54 stations are in planning or construction.
PennDOT opened its first NEVI-funded station in December 2023. Since then, those stations have supported more than 80,000 charging sessions, enabled an estimated 9.6 million miles of driving, and cut more than 2,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
More regional funding rounds are planned for later this year. Western Pennsylvania is scheduled for April to May 2026, while eastern and central regions are expected to open between August and September 2026.
Separately, PennDOT is preparing to announce awards from a different NEVI funding round focused on highway corridors. That program, which closed applications on January 30, 2026, targets charging stations along major roadways outside the previously designated Alternative Fuel Corridors to make long-distance EV travel easier across the state.
The expansion is happening while federal NEVI funding remains tied up in a legal fight. The US Department of Transportation is currently withholding congressionally approved funds that states say should be flowing to charging projects. Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA) has sued the Trump administration over the issue, arguing the funding freeze is unlawful. The state was also part of a multistate lawsuit last summer that successfully forced the federal government to reinstate the NEVI program, allowing projects like these to move forward.
Electrek’s Take
Pennsylvania is moving aggressively compared to many states, and that matters. The NEVI numbers so far are modest, but they reflect real usage, not just ribbon-cutting.
The bigger story is the ongoing federal funding fight. States are trying to build NEVI infrastructure, but the Trump administration deliberately slows progress through legal and administrative battles. Even when courts rule against federal agencies, the delays still cost time, planning certainty, and, in some cases, construction seasons. It’s a pointless waste of time and money.
Read more: Pennsylvania Turnpike opens its first federally funded EV chargers
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