The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) in cooperation with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has awarded $21 million in federal funds for electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations across the state. Thirty-one EV fast charging locations are needed to fill gaps along the state’s designated Alternative Fuel Corridors.
Federal funding through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program allocated $88 million for Tennessee over five years, from Fiscal Years 2022 through 2026. Ten grant applicants will be awarded contracts to establish 30 new charging locations throughout the state. These awardees will purchase, install, own, operate, maintain, and report on the program-funded EV charging infrastructure.
According to TDOT, the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure formula funding requires a match of at least 20 percent of the federal funds. For this round of awards totaling over $31 million, private funding accounts for 32%, more than $10 million in private funding for EV charging stations in Tennessee.
Tennessee lawmakers recently doubled the registration fee for EV owners from $100 to $200. The fee will go up to almost $300 by 2027. That’s in addition to the standard registration fee of $26.50, according to the Tennessee Department of Revenue. Hybrid owners pay $100 dollars in registration fees which will be adjusted annually for inflation.