Funding Freeze Impacts Iowa’s Electric Vehicle Charging Station Expansion
Plans to construct fresh electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the Des Moines metro are currently stalled. This situation stems from the pause on federal funding, initiated by the Trump administration. The funding, allocated via the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, was intended to bolster EV infrastructure throughout the states.
This development places projects at numerous Iowa locations, comprising Altoona, Des Moines, Iowa 80 Truckstop, and roughly two dozen more sites, on hold. These locations were scheduled to receive new EV charging stations.
Previously, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) had assigned over $16.2 million from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program. This allotment was earmarked for the installation of 28 new direct-current, rapid-charging stations situated along Iowa’s interstate highways. These include Interstates 29, 35, 80, and 380.
Locations slated for these charging stations incorporated Pilot Travel Centers and Kwik Star establishments in Altoona and Des Moines, respectively. Also included was the Iowa 80 Truckstop, alongside other travel centers, restaurants, gas stations, and hotels in locales such as Ames, De Soto, Iowa City, Newton, and Story City.
The Federal Highway Administration is currently reviewing the guidance concerning the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program. It aims to release updated instructions for public review in the spring. Following the conclusion of the public comment phase, the agency will subsequently issue final guidance for the program.
Stuart Anderson, director of the Iowa DOT Transportation Development Division, mentioned that new EV charging station projects are on hold until that process completes. The Iowa DOT needs to await the finalized guidance before they can update and submit their plans to the Federal Highway Administration for approval.
A group of nine Democratic U.S. senators raised concerns, alleging the Trump administration was illegally withholding $3 billion in previously authorized funds for EV charging. Additionally, a coalition representing automakers and EV charging companies has urged the U.S. Department of Transportation to immediately restore EV funding.
Currently, the Des Moines and its surrounding areas feature 104 electric vehicle charging station locations.
- Altoona: 19
- Ankeny: 8
- Bondurant: 1
- Clive: 4
- Des Moines: 36
- Grimes: 4
- Johnston: 5
- Pleasant Hill: 1
- Urbandale: 8
- Waukee: 9
- West Des Moines: 9
In total, Iowa is equipped with 270 EV charging stations, aiming to support the increasing number of electric vehicles on the road.
As of December 31, 2023, data from the U.S. Department of Energy indicated that 9,031 electric vehicles were registered in Iowa. The Iowa DOT’s data from June 2023 showed 12,800 registered vehicles, including hybrids, with at least one registered in every county.
