ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Wes Moore announced $12.1 million in federal funding as part of the first round of conditional awards to expand electric vehicle charging sites under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program. The program, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will accelerate the deployment of publicly accessible EV chargers and build a reliable and convenient charging network, creating 130 fast-charging ports at 23 sites in 15 counties across the state.
“Clean energy is not just smart for the environment; it creates new jobs for Marylanders and strengthens our economy. Climate action is about more than avoiding disaster. It’s about growing opportunity, and we can – and we will – do both,” said Gov. Moore. “Maryland takes a back seat to no one in advancing our clean energy goals, and today, we move one step closer to achieving a more sustainable future for all. I want to thank the Biden-Harris Administration and our federal, state, and local partners for their support.”
The Maryland Department of Transportation is partnering with ElectraStop, Francis Energy, Gridwealth EV, Koulomb, Pilot Travel Centers, Tesla and Wawa in deploying the EV chargers, subject to final agreement with the Maryland Department of Transportation. Sites include travel centers, shopping malls, gas stations and convenience stores located along federally-designated Alternative Fuel Corridors, which support EV charging and hydrogen, propane and natural gas fueling infrastructure.
“One of the major barriers potential EV owners face is a lack of chargers across the state. With these awards, we are taking a critical step forward in providing more options for Marylanders to travel worry-free,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “Under the Moore-Miller Administration, Maryland is committed to being the greenest state in the country. When it comes to transportation, that means accelerating the transition to electric vehicles alongside other critical investments in transit and mode shift.”
Award recipients will receive program funding for up to 80 percent of the cost of the new EV infrastructure. Recipients are also required to operate and maintain direct current fast (DC) chargers, ensuring they are operational 97% of the time for at least five years and will provide $5.6 million in private match. Participants have one year to build the new EV charging port, with sites opening by Fall 2025.
“The transportation sector makes up 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in Maryland," said Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain. "Installing these new fast chargers along our highways provides the certainty that consumers need to transition to electric vehicles. As we continue to make progress in our clean energy transition, we are making the air we breathe cleaner and building a greener economy."
The conditional awards represent a critical step in Maryland’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure plan implementation of 41 total EV fast charging sites, necessary to meet the federal build-out of the state’s Alternative Fuel Corridors. When the new fast charging sites are open, Maryland will meet more than 50% of the federal build-out requirements for the corridors.
Consistent with program requirements, sites are designed to ensure that there is charging infrastructure at least every 50 miles on these Alternative Fuel Corridors. This fall, the Maryland Department of Transportation intends to issue a request for proposals for a second round of funding focused on building the remaining 18 sites.
"Investing in these new charging ports is a major step forward in making Maryland a leader in electric vehicle adoption. These new stations will go a long way toward encouraging the purchase of electric vehicles and reducing ‘range anxiety,’” said Maryland Energy Administration Director Paul G. Pinsky. “Maryland wants to welcome EV purchasers and people traveling through our state — as well as create new jobs. NEVI is helping move us quickly toward both goals.”
With nearly 110,000 registrations as of June 30, the state has seen growth of more than 65 percent since January 2023. Electric vehicles are registered in all 23 counties and Baltimore City.
For more information about Maryland’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure implementation, visit the Maryland Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Plan website.
To learn more about Maryland’s EV adoption progress, including how many electric vehicles are registered in the state and the number and location of EV charging ports, visit the Maryland by the Numbers website.
