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🎉 The Joint Office turned three on December 14! 🎉
Since 2021, the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office) has advanced public-private efforts to fill critical gaps in the national electric vehicle (EV) charging network. Key federal programs supported by the Joint Office have spurred private sector investment to grow our national EV charging network to more than 205,000 public EV chargers—more than double the number of public chargers since 2021 with nearly 1,000 new public chargers turned on every week.
As of today, families can travel about 60% of the most heavily trafficked corridors and expect a fast charger at least every 50 miles. By the end of next year, we expect that 70% of those corridors will be covered.
The Joint Office is also working with industry to make charging easier for everyone by creating open standards for EV charging and enabling Plug & Charge so drivers can plug in any car at any public charging station and automatically start charging, with no payment processing step required.
We look forward to another year of advancing zero-emission vehicle charging and refueling infrastructure to ensure all Americans have an easy choice to ride or drive electric.
 Spotlight
Keep track of the latest stats on NEVI funded EV charging sites with the NEVI Awards Dashboard. Use this tool to review each states NEVI status, detailed and easy-to-filter award data, and analysis with multiple side by side comparison options.
Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Webinars
 📅 Dec. 18, 2-3:30 p.m. ET
Jeff Peel, deployment manager at the Joint Office, will join a Department of Transportation Climate Change Center webinar on parking reform as a climate strategy, touching on parking requirements, curb management, and planning for EV charging.
Joint Office Headlines
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published new questions and answers to the NEVI Formula Program Q&A and announced slight revisions to the Fully Built Out Certification of its NEVI guidance.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that 70 applicants across 27 states, three Tribal Nations, and one territory have been selected to receive approximately $735 million to assist in the purchase of over 2,000 zero-emission vehicles through its first-ever Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program.
 Photo from NACFE's Run on Less – Electric DEPO.
Michigan and Texas Open New Stations with NEVI Funding
Michigan and Texas recently opened their first NEVI stations (one in Michigan and three in Texas), bringing the NEVI program’s nationwide reach to 171 NEVI Formula Program funded EV charging ports across 41 stations in 12 states. Progress on the NEVI program delivers convenient charging to support long-distance travel, giving more Americans the confidence to choose electric. 🔌
 NEVI station opens in Happy, Texas.
Joint Office in the News
Plug & Charge in the News
Secure communication between cars and chargers is now possible, thanks to EVPKI, a new security framework from SAE. EVPKI creates a common secure platform to let vehicles, chargers, and charging networks communicate clearly.
Check out some of the top news stories on EVPKI:
In Case You Missed It 📣
ACT FAST: CBPA Program Accepting Applications 🚍
The Clean Bus Planning Awards (CBPA) program is open and accepting applications from school and transit bus fleets - act now to secure your spot before resources run out!
CBPA recipients receive free assistance to help create customized bus electrification transition plans. Fleets eligible for the EPA Clean School Bus & FTA Low-No funding programs are generally eligible to apply.
- Sets a vision for deployment, helping to rally unified support from decision makers, stakeholders, and constituents.
- Coordinates internal and external project teams, reducing bandwidth burden on overloaded pupil transportation directors and transit fleet managers.
- Establishes realistic short-term and long-term targets, supported by sound technical analysis.
- Serves as a foundation and reference point for day-to-day operations and subsequent deployment efforts.
Resources are limited - act now and submit your application on the CBPA program website. Questions may be directed to cbpa@nrel.gov.
Webinar Recording: Plugged-in with the Joint Office
Weren’t able to join the ‘Plugged-in With the Joint Office’ webinar? Watch the recording to hear from Joint Office Executive Director Gabe Klein and our team of experts, who provided an update on how we’re advancing charging infrastructure, grid modernization, cybersecurity, community and urban charging, and more.
Resources and Tools
 New action plans address challenges and present opportunities to dramatically reduce emissions across the rail, maritime, light-duty vehicle, medium- and heavy-duty vehicle, aviation, and off-road vehicle sectors, while improving U.S. competitiveness in a rapidly changing transportation sector.
Action plans were also developed for the Blueprint strategies focused on system-level convenience and efficiency. These plans highlight the cross-cutting nature of land use, active transportation, mode shift, and intelligent transportation solutions for the transportation sector.
Funding Opportunities
EPA has announced the opening of the 2024 CSB Rebate Program application period! Under the 2024 program, the EPA anticipates awarding up to $965 million in rebate funding.
The CSB Program prioritizes applications that will replace buses serving high-need local education agencies, rural areas, Tribal school districts funded by the Bureau of Indian Education, and public school districts receiving basic support payments for students living on Tribal land. The program guidance and application process differ from prior EPA school bus rebate programs, so please review the summary of program requirements and the detailed Program Guide before proceeding.
Application deadline: Jan. 9, 2025
Join Us: Upcoming Events
See all upcoming events at driveelectric.gov/events.
TRB Annual Meeting Jan. 7, 2025, Washington, D.C. Join Kevin Miller for a session that will highlight existing programs and policies that are supporting the transition to zero-emission freight and be on the lookout for other Joint Office staffers at the event.
Reinventing the Right of Way Policy, Technical, and Economic Implications of Siting Transmission Lines Along Transportation Corridors. A Workshop
This ad hoc planning committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will organize and host a workshop to discuss opportunities, benefits and barriers for the use of highway and rail rights of way (RoWs) for electrical transmission. A proceedings-in-brief will be published following the workshop.
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