Administration continues effort to efficiently drive out federal funding and make green transportation accessible to travelers; Pennsylvania one of only a handful of states to successfully open NEVI-funded charging stations
Aston, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) opened its third federally-funded electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Aston, PA. With the state's third station coming online, the Shapiro administration continues to lead the nation in opening NEVI-funded stations while combatting climate change and providing travelers with transportation options that are cleaner, safer, and more affordable.
“The Shapiro administration is aggressively investing these funds to give Pennsylvanians more clean transportation options no matter where they live," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. "As more stations are built near our highways, we are also driving toward expanded charging infrastructure in communities across the Commonwealth. Pennsylvania will see more EV charging options because of this state and federal partnership, and we look forward to opening even more charging stations."
The charging station was installed at Royal Farms at the Route 452 Exit on I-95 (Exit 2) near Route 322 in Delaware County and will support a total of eight ports, of which four ports are funded by NEVI and are capable of providing 150 kW of power to each vehicle simultaneously. The total NEVI funding awarded to the project was $253,826. Tesla will own and operate the charging station. The site, open 24/7, will provide customers with access to the station's amenities while charging.
"We're excited to support Pennsylvania – a leader in the sustainable transportation revolution – as they open their third NEVI-funded EV charging station," said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Kristin White. “Pennsylvania is one of the leading states in building out its Alternative Fuel Corridors – a key part of the national EV network - ensuring people can conveniently and reliably charge electric vehicles, while supporting the growing demand for EVs and investing in good-paying jobs."
“PennDOT is swiftly leveraging NEVI funding in collaboration with private investment to address gaps in Pennsylvania's expanding network of high-speed fast chargers along the national highway system," said Joint Office of Energy and Transportation Executive Director Gabe Klein. “Simultaneously, cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are tapping into Charging and Fueling Infrastructure grant funding to build new EV charging hubs, making it easier for multifamily residents, gig workers, and underserved communities to ride and drive electric."
NEVI funding supports the Commonwealth and federal goal of expanding EV charging along the previously designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) (see a map of AFCs here). Pennsylvania has over 1,800 miles of AFCs. Per guidance from U.S. DOT, NEVI formula funds must first be used to "build out" designated AFCs (meaning there must be no more than 50 miles between stations and stations must be less than 1 mile from an AFC exit) and meet U.S. DOT minimum standards and requirements.
“Energizing the first NEVI-funded charger in southeastern Pennsylvania is an important milestone for PECO, and we look forward to working with PennDOT to build on this momentum to expand access to electric vehicle charging," said Carolina DiGiorgio, PECO vice president of Governmental and External Affairs. “The NEVI program is incredibly important to Pennsylvania's electrified transportation goals, and we're committed to doing all that we can to streamline our efforts so more projects like this can come online soon."
The PA NEVI program includes multiple rounds of funding. During Round 1, when the Aston station was awarded, the focus was on building out the AFC network along the interstates to meet the NEVI requirements. A list of Round 1A awards is available on PennDOT's website. Additionally, PennDOT recently announced conditional awards of NEVI Round 1B to close remaining gaps in the state's AFC network. Once AFCs are fully built out, PennDOT will shift to expanding EV chargers to Pennsylvania's community charging infrastructure.
Pennsylvania can compete for billions of dollars in federal funds across a wide range of federal grant programs through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Among others, FHWA recently announced three Pennsylvania award recipients from Round 1B of the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Program totaling over $11 million. These projects will expand access to EV charging infrastructure within communities across the state, complementing the NEVI program rollout.
To help communities and organizations learn about these opportunities, PennDOT created a web page, www.penndot.pa.gov/IIJA, with details on federal grant opportunities to help municipalities, townships, and other community agencies with understanding the multiple transportation program grants that are available. The page includes Grant Alerts, guides, and links to important resources for local municipalities and organizations interested in pursuing federal funding opportunities.
Information about state infrastructure in Pennsylvania, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/results. Find PennDOT's planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.
CONTACT: Alexis Campbell, alecampbel@pa.gov or 717-783-8800
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