Pennsylvania is way ahead on NEVI charging – now comes another $37M

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program is a federal effort created by the Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It provides money to states for public electric-vehicle charging infrastructure. Pennsylvania’s five-year allocation is $171.5 million. The program is meant to build charging stations that make EV travel and everyday charging more practical.

NEVI initially targeted DC fast chargers along designated highway corridors. After the Federal Highway Administration certified that Pennsylvania met its corridor requirements, the state could use funds more broadly. Its community charging program now supports both Level 2 and DC fast charging in neighborhoods and parking facilities.

Pennsylvania has already built 54 charging stations with NEVI money, more than twice as many as any other state. New projects must meet requirements including at least four ports per station, two ADA-compliant parking spaces, approved connectors, and Buy America rules. More funding rounds are planned statewide.

Pennsylvania is directing $37 million in federal NEVI funding toward new public EV charging infrastructure across the Philadelphia region. PennDOT says the awards will produce 515 charging ports. The investment matters because it expands access beyond highway stops and reaches neighborhoods, public parking lots, and other places drivers already park.

The projects cover Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. They include curbside Level 2 chargers, fast chargers at Philadelphia Parking Authority lots, and additional fast-charging ports at Royal Farms and Wawa locations. It’s Electric PA and Voltpost received funding for curbside installations.

The awards are part of PennDOT’s roughly $100 million statewide community charging effort. They are not immediately usable stations. Environmental reviews are scheduled for November 2026 through January 2027, followed by agreement execution in January and February, before construction and commissioning can begin.

Pennsylvania’s southeastern NEVI awards are expected to add 515 public EV charging ports across the Philadelphia region. That is a substantial expansion of the places where drivers can recharge, especially for people who cannot charge at home. The planned network combines neighborhood curbside ports with chargers in public lots and retail locations.

PennDOT estimates that the projects will increase public charging availability by 27% across Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. Philadelphia itself is expected to see a larger 53% increase. The figures describe added public availability across the region and city, rather than a stated increase in charging speed.

The ports are still planned infrastructure, not operating stations. Environmental reviews, agreements, construction, and commissioning must occur first. The projects include 157 on-street Level 2 ports from It’s Electric PA, 62 suburban curbside ports from Voltpost, and multiple DC fast-charging awards.

Curbside chargers are especially important because many drivers cannot install or use a private home charger. Someone living in an apartment, rowhouse, or home without a driveway may have no dedicated place to plug in overnight. A charger at the curb can provide a nearby public option while the vehicle is parked.

The Philadelphia projects show how this works. It’s Electric PA received $2.93 million for 157 on-street Level 2 ports across 13 Philadelphia neighborhoods. Voltpost received funding for another 62 curbside ports across Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. These installations bring charging into residential areas rather than concentrating it only at highways or commercial sites.

Curbside charging will not be available immediately. The awards must move through environmental reviews, agreement execution, construction, and commissioning. Once completed, the ports should give more residents practical access to public charging near where they live and park.

NEVI initially focused on fast charging along designated highway corridors. That approach helped establish charging coverage for drivers traveling longer distances, rather than immediately spreading money among local neighborhood projects. The program’s early rules tied federal spending to corridor charging requirements.

Pennsylvania had to meet those requirements before shifting funds into broader community charging. The Federal Highway Administration certified that the state had done so on September 22, 2025. That certification opened the door for NEVI money to support Level 2 and DC fast chargers in neighborhoods, public parking lots, and other community locations.

Pennsylvania has built 54 EV charging stations using NEVI funds so far, more than double the number in any other state. The new southeastern awards show the program’s next phase. Funding can now address drivers’ daily charging needs, including curbside access for people without private parking.

Receiving a charging award does not mean a station is ready for drivers. The award starts a project process that must be completed before any port becomes usable. This distinction matters because the southeastern projects are still planned infrastructure, not finished chargers.

PennDOT’s estimated schedule puts environmental reviews in November 2026 through January 2027. Agreement execution is expected in January and February. After those steps, projects still need construction and commissioning. Commissioning is the final preparation and verification stage before a station can open for public use.

Drivers therefore must wait beyond the announcement and funding stage. The projects will eventually add 515 ports across five counties, but the article does not give an operating date for the stations. The timeline shows that federal funding can accelerate expansion while still requiring several practical steps before charging begins.

Level 2 and DC fast charging serve different charging situations. In general, Level 2 charging supplies electricity more slowly and works well when a vehicle will remain parked for hours. DC fast charging delivers energy much more quickly, making it useful when a driver needs to resume a trip after a shorter stop. The article does not state exact speeds.

The planned Pennsylvania network uses both types. It’s Electric PA received funding for 157 on-street Level 2 ports in Philadelphia, while PositivEnergy received $7.2 million for 54 DC fast-charging ports at 11 Philadelphia Parking Authority lots. Tesla also received awards for fast-charging ports at Royal Farms and Wawa locations.

An EV driver would generally choose based on time and location. A resident parked near home could use Level 2 overnight or during a long visit. A traveler or driver making a brief stop would usually prefer DC fast charging. Actual charging time also depends on the vehicle and station.