WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy recently unveiled the Administration’s new proposal to expand a Buy America public interest waiver for electric vehicle (EV) chargers that raises the required domestic content from 55 percent up to 100 percent. Expanding the Buy America requirement will strengthen domestic manufacturing, generate new American jobs, make U.S. businesses more competitive, and address potential national security concerns.
Once the updated waiver is finalized, the requirement will be immediately applicable to federally funded EV charger projects during acquisition or installation.
“Biden and Buttigieg talked a big game, but their miserably designed program failed to deliver EV chargers and promote domestic manufacturing,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “We’ve already updated the guidance, slashed red tape, and made it easier for states to efficiently build out this infrastructure – delivering nearly double the amount of charging ports completed during the Biden Administration. Now we’re ensuring that if Congress wants to see these chargers built, we put America First. Doing so will unleash American manufacturing, protect our national security, and prevent taxpayer dollars from subsidizing our foreign adversaries.”
“The Biden-Buttigieg Administration’s empty promises led to few EV chargers and hurt domestic manufacturing. The Trump Administration is committed to boosting America’s industrial base to secure the long-term strength and stability of critical supply chains,” said FHWA Administrator Sean McMaster.
Additional Information:
The Trump Administration believes that manufacturers today have the capacity to produce EV chargers in facilities located within the United States, providing an opportunity to maximize the domestic content of products purchased with federal taxpayer dollars. Additionally, from a national security standpoint, this change will protect Americans from foreign-made EV charger components that use technology with cybersecurity vulnerabilities. FHWA is proposing to modify the final waiver to require that EV chargers be manufactured in the United States and that up to 100 percent of the cost of all components of an EV charger purchased or installed with FHWA-administered funds be domestic.
We are currently beyond the timeframe industry said they would need to ramp up capacity to be able to domestically manufacture EV chargers. This proposal is designed to provide a strong incentive for manufacturers to rapidly shift their processes toward domestic manufacturing. The FHWA believes this approach will be effective in fulfilling the Administration’s strong commitment to help American businesses and workers compete and thrive in the global marketplace.
The Notice of Proposed Modification of the Waiver of Buy America Requirements for Electric Vehicle Chargers updates the Waiver of Buy America Requirements for Electric Vehicle Chargers published in the Federal Register on February 21, 2023.
For more information, please see the Notice of Proposed Modification of the Waiver of Buy America Requirements for Electric Vehicle Chargers.
In August, Secretary Duffy unveiled revised guidance for National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. Together, the revised NEVI guidance and Buy America waiver will slash red tape and ensure charging stations are actually built and federal funding is spent effectively and efficiently.
Ben Prochazka, executive director of the Electrification Coalition, responded:
Tagged with DOT Department of Transportation, EV“The Electrification Coalition strongly supports efforts to expand American manufacturing and strengthen domestic supply chains. Building the future of transportation in the United States is essential for our economic security, our global competitiveness, and our national resilience.
“However, increasing the Build America, Buy America (BABA) domestic content requirement to 100 percent at this time would have significant consequences. Today, no EV charging manufacturer can meet a 100 percent threshold, and this change would effectively end the goal of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program and years of investment from communities across the country.
“The rapid and reliable expansion of EV charging is critical to giving consumers more choices, diversifying how we power transportation, driving American job growth, and ensuring the U.S. auto industry remains competitive against Chinese automakers.
“If approved, this would be another setback for the U.S. auto industry and for the major investments that have already been made to build in America. We urge the administration to pursue a balanced approach—one that continues pushing industry toward greater domestic production while preserving the momentum needed to build out the charging infrastructure that is foundational to America’s transportation future.”