HANOVER, Md. — Maryland transportation officials announced $9.6 million in new federal funding Tuesday to expand the state’s electric vehicle charging network, marking the second round of awards under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program. The latest round includes 12 conditional awards for new fast-charging sites that will add to 19 projects already underway. Together, the two funding rounds represent 166 fast-charging ports planned across the state.
Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Acting Secretary Samantha J. Biddle said the expansion ensures EV drivers will have reliable access to charging stations along major travel routes. “Maryland’s growing EV charging network provides assurance to future and current EV owners that there are plenty of places to plug in along their trip,” Biddle said. “These conditional awards ensure the state’s charging network is up and ready to accommodate the rising number of EVs across Maryland.”
Under the new funding, MDOT will partner with Francis Energy, Universal EV and Drake Petroleum to install charging stations at gas stations, hotels and a recreation center, each located within one mile of the state’s main highways. The awards will cover up to 80 percent of eligible installation, operation and maintenance costs for five years. Companies receiving funding must keep chargers operational at least 97 percent of the time and are expected to contribute nearly $2.5 million in private matching funds. Construction on the new sites is expected to begin soon, with public openings anticipated by spring 2028.
The Maryland Department of Transportation plans to issue a third request for proposals early next year to complete corridor coverage under the NEVI Program. Remaining federal funds will go toward charging infrastructure in residential and commercial areas to make access more convenient for Marylanders.
Electric vehicle adoption continues to accelerate across the state. As of September 30, Maryland had nearly 148,000 registered EVs, a 16 percent increase since January. Public charging availability has grown by more than 19 percent this year, reaching nearly 5,400 public ports statewide.
More information about Maryland’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure implementation is available at evplan.mdot.maryland.gov. Data on electric vehicle registrations and charging locations can be viewed through the Maryland by the Numbers dashboard at https://tinyurl.com/wnk27yr5.
