Michigan unlocks $51M to expand EV charging across state

Michigan hit a pivotal milestone in early April when the Federal Highway Administration approved the state's fiscal year 2026 Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan and granted "fully built out" certification under the NEVI program, unlocking the remaining $51 million of the state's $106 million federal allocation.

The Michigan Department of Transportation completed the first phase of the NEVI program by building fast chargers along designated highway corridors, positioning the state to move beyond the corridor phase and address broader charging needs. "MDOT is now authorized to begin investing the remaining $51 million in discretionary NEVI formula funds to accelerate the deployment of EV charging infrastructure," MDOT said in announcing the milestone. The flexible funding will support geographic gap closure, charger reliability improvements, user experience enhancements, medium-duty vehicle and fleet charging, and longer-term statewide priorities.

Meanwhile, Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Southfield, is separately advancing a $50 million wireless EV charging grant program through the U.S. House, which would distribute up to $5 million per project to state, local, or tribal governments. The bill prioritizes projects benefiting low-income and underserved communities while requiring recipients to cover at least 20% of project costs. Lawrence's proposal aligns with Michigan's Office of Future Mobility and Electrification plans to build a one-mile wireless charging road, and the bill is co-sponsored by seven Democrats, including Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Waterford Township.

MDOT is already deploying progress on the ground: following its first two funding rounds, the department is actively working to deploy 83 NEVI-funded charging stations across Michigan. The state has strategically placed chargers every 60 miles along major highways and travel corridors. A third round of NEVI applications is coming soon, with the goal of extending funding opportunities to every Michigan community.

Recent months have shown Michigan's expanding EV charging momentum, with over 40 new fast chargers added to Detroit, 48 new Tesla chargers deployed across the Detroit area, and more than 200 EV chargers coming to Michigan apartment complexes. These developments position Michigan as a regional leader in EV infrastructure deployment and support the state's economic development and transportation innovation goals.