Michigan OKs NEVI funds

Michigan can now start spending its remaining $51 million in federal electric-vehicle charging money after federal officials approved the state’s 2026 deployment plan. (michigan.gov) The Michigan Department of Transportation said the Federal Highway Administration approved both its fiscal year 2026 Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan and its “fully built out” certification request on April 6. The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program has allocated $106 million to Michigan through fiscal year 2026. (michigan.gov) Michigan said it is already working to deploy 83 charging stations statewide from its first two procurement rounds. The department said a third round of applications will open next, with the remaining money available on a more flexible basis. (michigan.gov) The federal program was designed to build a basic highway charging spine first, then let states spend later dollars on harder gaps. The U.S. Department of Transportation says states must submit annual plans to access National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure funds, and those plans cover fiscal years 2022 through 2026. (afdc.energy.gov) Michigan’s approval means the state can move beyond the first pass of interstate coverage and target places where chargers are sparse or unreliable. Michigan said the next funding round can support geographic gaps, charger reliability, user experience, medium-duty vehicles and fleets, and more equitable access. (michigan.gov) That matters in a state where long-distance travel, tourism, and freight all depend on highway corridors that cross large rural areas. Michigan’s own National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure site map shows rounds 1 and 2 are complete and awarded sites are now in stages ranging from contract and design to construction and operation. (experience.arcgis.com) The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program is a cost-share program, not a full federal grant for every project. The Alternative Fuels Data Center says federal funding is available for up to 80% of eligible project costs, with the rest typically coming from private or other non-federal sources. (afdc.energy.gov) Michigan’s 2026 state plan, published in September 2025, laid out the strategy before this month’s federal signoff. That document included chapters on rounds 1 and 2 procurements, post-buildout deployment, public engagement, and cybersecurity requirements for the charging network. (michigan.gov) The next test is whether Michigan can turn approved dollars into working plugs quickly enough to make the network visible to drivers. For now, the state has federal clearance, a third funding round ahead, and 83 previously selected stations moving through the pipeline. (michigan.gov)