With the passage of these two acts, the Federal Government unlocked funding and tax credits for electric vehicles and electric vehicle infrastructure. These laws marked a significant ability to accelerate the transition to transportation electrification and keep up with potential opportunities for funding and information about policies.
Notably, these two laws created two programs specifically designed to support port electrification: the Clean Ports Program and the Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Grant Program. Clean Ports Program and Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities Grant Program
– Clean Ports Program: Established by the Inflation Reduction Act, the Clean Ports Program was a one-time funding opportunity of $3 billion for climate and air quality planning and the deploying of zero-emission technologies, including electric port equipment, vehicles, and charging infrastructure.
– Reduction of Truck Emissions at Port Facilities (RTEPF) Grant Program: Established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the $400 million RTEPF Grant Program funds projects that both study truck idling and zero-emission alternatives at ports and deployment projects that reduce port emissions, including electrification. The first round of funding awarded $148 million to 16 projects in 11 states, leaving the program with $252 million for future funding rounds.
In March 2024, the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation published the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy, a comprehensive framework to support the national buildout of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicle charging infrastructure along the National Highway Freight Network and help prioritize federal funding. The Strategy identifies four phases:
Phase 1: Establish priority hubs (2024-2027)
Phase 2: Connect hubs (2027-2030)
Phase 3: Expand corridors (2030-2035)
Phase 4: Complete network (2035-2040)
Many of the key ports in the U.S. are included in Phase 1 of the Strategy.
As of December 2022, the 45W credit extends to commercial and tax-exempt entities, making government entities eligible to claim the credit. The credit is up to $7,500 for vehicles under 14,000 pounds and up to $40,000 for all other vehicles. Only certain vehicles are eligible for the credit, as the new law stipulates certain manufacturing and final assembly requirements. To check if a vehicle is eligible, the Alternative Fuels Data Center for the U.S. Department of Energy has a tool to determine eligibility.
The credit will be claimed as a direct payment to governments. The entity will elect to receive the compensation on a tax filing. Check the IRS page to learn more about how to claim the credit.
In August 2022, the U.S. Access Board released new ADA (The Americans with Disabilities Act) charging design guidance for the first time since 2014. The release provides accessibility guidelines under laws such as the ADA), Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), and Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
These recommendations accommodate drivers with limited accessibility (mobility, sensory, auditory, etc.) and more EVs come online and as technology for charging equipment advances. Under these guidelines, fleet EV charging stations at facilities designed, built, altered, or leased with federal funds for charging organizations’ vehicles must be accessible. Find the complete guidance here.
The Electrification Coalition released a memo with a summary of considerations that should be made regarding this guidance.